Sheriff asks public not to burn after attempted control burn gets out of control

NATCHEZ — An attempted control burn in the Kingston area got out of hand after Adams County residents were warned against burning, authorities said.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said a fire spread out of control on private property on Carmel Church Road this afternoon.

An estimated acre or acre and one-half of grass burned but no structures. The fire was put out around 3 p.m.

Adams County Fire Coordinator Darryl Smith told Adams County Board of Supervisors during their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday that he was asking the state forestry commission for a burn ban to be issued.

The Mississippi  Forestry Commission has no burn bans issued as of today.

According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the local sheriff’s department enforces burn bans. Anyone who knowingly and willfully violates a burning ban is guilty of a misdemeanor. These persons may receive a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500.

Patten cautioned the public not to take the county’s warning against burning lightly.

“Half the state of California was on fire because of a burning violation,” he said. “(If a burn ban) is violated, you will be summoned to court and if you get found guilty, you will have to pay. … We need people not to burn because it’s not just their property at risk but everyone’s around them. … Even though there is not a burn ban in effect, we ask people not to burn and if they do to use extra caution.”

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