Burn Ban Lifted After Month of Fire Risk in Clinton
Officials warn residents to remain cautious with outdoor burning and lithium-ion devices despite lifted restrictions
On March 2, the city of Clinton, along with all of Hinds County, imposed a burn ban that remained in effect until April 1. The ban prohibited all outside burning, which included debris such as vegetation and tree limbs due to dry conditions.
According to Chief Levius Buckley of the Clinton Fire Department, a lack of rain was the reason for the ban’s implementation. “It’s in place right now because we’re in a drought,” Buckley said. “And since the beginning of the new year, we’ve been overloaded with grass fires, whether it’s caused by fireworks or just dry and windy conditions.”
According to Buckley, unattended grass fires are one of the most common fire hazards he sees in the Clinton community. “Like, somebody burning limbs and they leave their house, it happens all the time, [they] end up burning their neighbor’s fence or something like that,” Buckley said.
Other common causes of fires include outdoor cooking and the overheating of lithium-ion batteries, especially those in cellphones, which, according to the fire chief, is a common cause of fire among college students.
When it comes to students living in dorms, Buckley also noted several other potential fire hazards. He said overloading washers and dryers, irresponsible and unattended cooking, hanging clothes from the sprinkler systems in dorms, and charging bikes containing lithium-ion batteries inside of dorms are all major fire risks.
Mississippi College sophomore Elijah Whitfield shared how the recent burn ban has affected his family’s plan to build a lake on their property. “So, right now, we’re mining dirt to put a lake in, and we had to take out a bunch of trees,” Whitfield said. “So, right now, we probably have [about an] acre of wood piles that we need to burn.”
Whitfield also said that his family usually burns their overgrown fields, but they have not been able to because of the ban. “Usually, we’ll burn a field if it gets too overgrown, and if the grass builds up too high, burn it, and all the weeds will go, and the fresh grass will come in, and the cows will eat it better,” Whitfield said.
The local student said that overall, the ban has not significantly impacted his family’s routine. “This is really a one-off, and we really haven’t burned too much, so it hasn’t done us off too bad,” Whitfield said.
Some ways to prevent fires include not leaving flames unattended, properly disposing of hot coals, and removing lint from lint traps. When charging lithium-ion batteries, Buckley recommended placing the charging device on a hard surface, such as a desk. He also warned against charging phones on a non-porous soft surface, such as a mattress, to prevent overheating. Talking on a cellphone as it charges can cause overheating as well. Buckley also emphasized the importance of using a UL-rated charger to charge cell phones, as other kinds may cause overheating and start fires. The fireman said students can prevent dangerous situations simply by paying more attention to what they are doing. “Just be present and watch what you’re doing,” Buckley said. “Slow down, take care of what you need to take care of, and we’ll be good.”