ZETUS — Volunteer Firefighters with Zetus Volunteer Fire Department soaked down a grass fire Wednesday afternoon to keep it from spreading. The fire was contained to a roadside ditch with some damage sustained to a fence.

It is the most recent grass fire call this week. As fall nears, soil moisture is drying up along with vegetation. The two are key ingredients to grass fires and wildfires. According to the National Weather Service, there have been 18 consecutive days since the last measurable rainfall.

Mississippi Forestry Commission warns gusty winds also help wildfires get out of hand. Peak wildfire season in Mississippi is from October to April.

At this time there are no active burn bans in Mississippi. Citizens are reminded to be fire wise if burning debris and to call in reports of wildfires. Nine out of 10 wildfires are caused by human error and are thus preventable.

Lincoln County is served by eight Volunteer Fire Departments. Want to volunteer? Contact your local department or the Lincoln County Emergency Management Office at 601-833-8561 to learn more.