Mississippi · Burn Bans

Before

No statewide burn ban. Mississippi bans are county-by-county: the County Board of Supervisors requests one and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves it, and in MFC's words "All burn bans expire at midnight on the stated date of expiration." During a ban, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is prohibited — campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning; propane/gas grills, propane/gas heaters and charcoal grills remain allowed. Each ban lists either "No Exemptions" or specific exemptions (Mississippi Forestry Commission, certified burn managers, county fire services, commercial contractors using heavy construction equipment where the burn meets MDEQ open-burning rules, agricultural field burns, or other). The local sheriff's department enforces bans; knowingly and willfully violating one is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 (Miss. Code §49-19-351). HOW TO CHECK YOUR COUNTY: MFC publishes active bans only as a map image at mfc.ms.gov/burning-info/burn-bans — counties shaded red are under a ban. That map carries no expiration dates, so MFC's own page will not tell you when a ban ends, and it is redrawn only periodically, so a ban adopted in the last few days may not appear on it yet. Never treat an unshaded county as confirmed safe — confirm with your County Board of Supervisors or sheriff's department before you burn. Snapshot: the map image MFC uploaded on October 9, 2026 (its file stamp) shades 18 counties red: Alcorn, Attala, Calhoun, Carroll, Grenada, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, Pike, Tate, Tippah, Webster and Winston. Compared with MFC's October 6, 2026 map, BENTON, LEE AND MARSHALL COUNTIES CAME OFF the map and no county was added. Because the map carries no dates, confirm with Benton, Lee or Marshall County before you burn there, and treat no unshaded county as confirmed safe.

Now

No statewide burn ban. Mississippi bans are county-by-county: the County Board of Supervisors requests one and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves it, and in MFC's words "All burn bans expire at midnight on the stated date of expiration." During a ban, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is prohibited — campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning; propane/gas grills, propane/gas heaters and charcoal grills remain allowed. Each ban lists either "No Exemptions" or specific exemptions (Mississippi Forestry Commission, certified burn managers, county fire services, commercial contractors using heavy construction equipment where the burn meets MDEQ open-burning rules, agricultural field burns, or other). The local sheriff's department enforces bans; knowingly and willfully violating one is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 (Miss. Code §49-19-351). HOW TO CHECK YOUR COUNTY: MFC publishes active bans only as a map image at mfc.ms.gov/burning-info/burn-bans — counties shaded red are under a ban. That map carries no expiration dates, so MFC's own page will not tell you when a ban ends, and it is redrawn only periodically, so a ban adopted in the last few days may not appear on it yet. Never treat an unshaded county as confirmed safe — confirm with your County Board of Supervisors or sheriff's department before you burn. Snapshot: the map image MFC uploaded on October 13, 2026 (its file stamp) shades 24 counties red: Amite, Attala, Calhoun, Carroll, Copiah, Grenada, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, Pike, Scott, Simpson, Tate, Tippah, Washington, Webster and Winston. Compared with MFC's October 9, 2026 map, 7 COUNTIES WERE ADDED - AMITE, COPIAH, JEFFERSON DAVIS, LEE, SCOTT, SIMPSON AND WASHINGTON - and ALCORN COUNTY CAME OFF the map. Because the map carries no dates, confirm with Alcorn County before you burn there, and treat no unshaded county as confirmed safe.