Burn ban in force statewide

By Rupert Howell
A statewide burn ban is still in force as well as a county and municipal burn bans that continue until officials feel the threat of serious wildfire has lessened considerably.
“It’s bad dry,” Batesville Fire Chief Tim Taylor said Monday morning in a telephone conversation when he asked this newspaper to remind residents that the ban continues.
Last week Panola County Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole said the county ban declared last month through November 7 would be extended unless considerable rainfall occurred before then. Panola Supervisors will most likely be asked to extend the burn ban during their meeting next Monday according to Cole
“I just hope we don’t get a windy day and some fool start a fire and it get away,” BFD Chief Taylor said noting that any fire under current dry conditions could easily become unmanageable adding, “Fortunately we’re not having a lot fires, so far.”