Four counties in northeast Mississippi have issued burn bans as the region continues to suffer from a lack of rainfall.

Lee, Pontotoc, Union and Calhoun counties recently received permission from the Mississippi Forestry Commission to issue bans.

Northeast Mississippi rainfall is more than 12 1/2 inches below normal with little rain in the forecast in the coming days.

Lee County’s ban is in effect until June 4. Pontotoc’s ban lasts till Thursday, Union’s until Friday and Calhoun’s ban is indefinite.

Lee County Supervisor Charles Duke said a constituent asked him to pursue a burn ban.

“This person was afraid that what happened in Georgia and Florida would happen here if we didn’t take some measure,” Duke said.

The fires in southern Georgia and northern Florida have burned more than 550,000 acres so far. Smoke from the fires has spread into surrounding states, including Mississippi.

National Weather Service forecasts for northeast Mississippi call for continued hot, dry conditions with just a 20 percent chance of rain Tuesday.