Rains that came through Pearl River County Tuesday and Wednesday allowed the burn ban previously in effect in the county to be lifted Wednesday afternoon.
Weather stations around Picayune recorded rainfall of .94 inch on Wednesday, and .21 inch on Tuesday.
Prior to this week, Pearl River County was under drought conditions, leading to the burn ban being put into effect on Oct. 31.
Those conditions created a scenario where grass and other types of fires were more likely. Pearl River County Fire Marshal Albert Lee said from the date the burn ban was established until it was lifted, fire departments throughout the county worked 103 individual grass or brush fires, but only one structure fire. And some of those grass or brush fires required more than one response.
For example, local fire departments worked the grass fire along Interstate 59 on Saturday about six times.
Lee said that number of grass fires during the burn ban was excessive.
The structure fire was not related to the drought conditions, but instead was the result of too much wood being put in a fireplace, Lee said.
Now that residents have no restriction on burning debris, emergency officials still emphasize caution be used. Pearl River County Emergency Management Director Danny Manley suggested residents avoid burning more debris than their resources can handle, and to be mindful of their surroundings.
If a resident plans to burn a large pile of debris, Lee said that person should call the non-emergency number for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, 601-798-5528, to report that fact so fire and other emergency personnel are not dispatched to the scene.
Lee said that if the forestry service is sent to a call that turns out to be an unreported controlled burn, the resident doing the burning will be billed.
Also, just because the area received some rain, does not mean a grass or brushfire still couldn’t occur.