BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Volunteer Firefighters have not encountered the volume of wildfire calls as they did to date in August 2023. It could be just a matter of time before wildfire calls begin to pick up and a discussion of a burn ban returns. 

One grass fire in a field near I-55 just north of the North Brookhaven Exit Tuesday was an accidental fire. Three fire engines from the New Sight Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to check on the fire as the smoke column billowed into the sky. The landowner was able to disk a firebreak around the fire and keep it contained.

Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Reid did not bring up discussion of a burn ban in Wednesday’s docket meeting. Rainfall is forecast for the next few days with a 50 percent chance of showers starting Wednesday. A 60 percent chance of rain is forecast for Thursday, 70 percent chance of rain Friday, 50 percent chance Saturday, 40 percent chance Sunday and Labor Day and a 60 percent chance next Tuesday.

A Burn ban discussion could come up next Tuesday at a regularly scheduled Lincoln County’s Board of Supervisors. The chance of discussion would be dependent upon rain received in the next few days.

According to the Fire Behavior Research station, Lincoln County has a Keetch-Byram Drought Index in the 600s. KBDI measures the rainfall needed to move soil moisture to normal levels. At this time, it would take about 6 inches of rainfall to return soil moisture to normal levels. It is common for KBDI levels to reach 600 during the late summer and early fall so a couple of inches could keep things where they would naturally be this time of year. 

Adams and Franklin Counties are both under burn bans at this time but the KBDI index in areas of those counties are 700 and higher.

Drought.gov has not shown an updated drought map for the area but Lincoln County was considered abnormally dry. There are solid chances of rain later this week into Labor Day. According to records, drought conditions are not as bad at this point in the year as they were last year. 

Last year, Lincoln County reached exceptional drought and it took months for the drought to subside. Moderate drought conditions formed in August and quickly became extreme and severe droughts by September. Exceptional drought conditions began in September and did not end until December. By the end of February, all drought conditions ended in Lincoln County.

The National Weather Service in Jackson states there have been 0.49 inches of rainfall measured in August to date. Comparatively, August 2023 ended with 0.07 inches of rain making it the driest August on record. If there is no more recorded rainfall, August 2024 would be the fifth driest August on record. Those records started in 1896.

It would be up to the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors to request a burn ban which would then have to be approved by the MFC. Burn bans are typically in place for a month. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would handle the enforcement of a burn ban. 

People should still exercise caution if they are able to legally burn. Check weather conditions, keep water on hand to control flames and establish a firebreak. One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire. If you do utilize prescribed fire, call the Lincoln County Dispatch so they can be aware.