Watch the above video for a view of the East Lincoln Wildfire taken by the Mississippi Forestry Commission Saturday. 

EAST LINCOLN  — A wildfire in East Lincoln this weekend burned over 400 acres according to Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Reid. The fire has now been contained after crews from Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Departments, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Walthall and Monticello Fire Departments fought the blaze from Saturday to Sunday. 

Reid said it is believed the cause of the fire was a lawn mower. Grass had gotten on the muffler, got hot and caught flame and that is all it took. Dry conditions mixed with gusty winds Sunday did not help firefighting efforts. 

The blaze started off of Garnet Trail in East Lincoln and spread to Sauls Road and Bronze Drive Southeast.  Reid said Monday morning he had not heard of the fire getting out of the contained area although fires could be burning in the contained area. 

One challenge the Mississippi Forestry Commission faced while fighting the fire was the fire would jump fire breaks and roads and spread. Conditions are conducive right now for fire to spread quickly. 

Fire danger remains in forecast

The National Weather Service in Jackson warns there is an elevated threat of fire danger in Lincoln County today. Open burning is discouraged and people should dispose of cigarettes properly and not on the ground. 

Other ways people can help prevent fires from starting is to not cut grass or bush hog because one spark is all it takes for a fire to start. Even parking in tall grass could be enough to start a fire. Trailer chains should not drag on the roadways. 

Lincoln County is still under a burn ban and there are no exceptions. Rain is not in the forecast until Sunday when we get a 20 percent chance of showers. 

NWS Jackson does forecast that the area should receive higher than normal precipitation in the 6 to 10 day forecast. It would take a substantial amount of rain to lift the burn ban and bring the area out of a drought. NWS Jackson forecasts the drought to persist through November.