Burn ban issued

By Adam Koob (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, July 2, 2009

NATCHEZ — High temperatures and a lack of rain caused the Adams County Board of Supervisors to issue a countywide burn ban Wednesday at a specially called meeting.

Adams County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens said since the county has no ordinance against open burning, the ban was necessary to keep county residents from burning rubbish or debris outdoors.

“It’s so dry out there, we just don’t need to take a chance,” Owens said.

Owens monitors rainfall at his residence and has recorded only .44 inches of precipitation in the month of June.

Fireworks were not banned.

But supervisor Darryl Grennell said he has concerns about residents using fireworks.

“People that are going to be using fireworks need to be extremely cautious,” Grennell said. “So many kids don’t know how dangerous (fireworks) can be.”

While the supervisors briefly discussed including fireworks in the burn ban, the impact the ban would have had on fireworks vendors was part of the reason fireworks weren’t included in the ban, Grennell said.

“It would have had a negative impact for those vendors,” he said.

Owens urged any residents that will be celebrating the weekend with fireworks to use extreme caution.

“If you’re going to pop fireworks, make sure you have a water source, like a hose, close at hand,” Owens said.

And while the supervisors took action to prevent unnecessary fires, the Natchez Fire Department has already been dealing with grass fires linked to the dry weather.

Natchez Fire Chief Oliver Stewart said fire crews responded to four grass fires on Tuesday.

Those fires were started by residents burning trash or yard debris.

“We’ve been seeing more (grass fires) than normal,” Stewart said.

Tuesday’s motion banned outdoor burning until July 7, when the supervisors meet again.

At that time the board will either vote to continue the ban or repeal it.

Those violating the ban can be fined up to $500.