One wildfire contained, another still burns in Franklin County
Published 2:47 pm Tuesday, February 20, 2024
- Fire response
MEADVILLE — United States Forest Service Fire Units responded to an active wildfire on the Homochitto National Forest in Franklin County Tuesday. The USFS stated the call of a wildfire came in at 11:10 a.m. Another wildfire is burning on private property near USFS land currently.
District Ranger Shaun Williamson reported a fire on Lottie Myers Road burned up to 43 acres and was 100 percent contained. Williamson said a private land prescribed burn got of hand and the fire spread to the forest service land.
Around 11:43 a.m., the USFS reported they were responding to a report of smoke in Franklin County near Knoxville Road. NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management Systems satellite map indicates the fire is on a private parcel of property on Knoxville Road and detects an area of 42 acres in size. FIRMS reports the fire was picked up at 1:09 p.m. by satellite.
Mississippi Forestry Commission responded to the Knoxville Road and began fighting it. Williamson said the fire has now spread to USFS land and they are working to contain the fire.
USFS states there is an ongoing prescribed burn on the Homochitto National Forest along US98 and Bude Tower Road. The burn is planned for 203 acres. USFS Mississippi warns the smoke from this burn will be visible from US98 and 84.
“Neither fire is related to or in the vicinity of a Forest Service prescribed fire,” Williamson said.