Background
Historically, Mississippi experiences two distinct wildfire periods, consistent with patterns observed across much of the Southeastern United States. The spring fire season, typically during March—just before vegetation “green-up”—is driven by dry conditions, gusty winds, and low humidity that foster rapid fire spread. The fall fire season often occurs in October and November, when foliage drops and leaf litter accumulates on the ground, creating highly flammable conditions. Most wildfires in these seasons are human-caused, often from debris burning or equipment use, rather than lightning strikes. [1]
The Mississippi Forestry Commission—tasked with wildfire detection, suppression, and prevention—continues issuing burn bans, promoting public awareness, and enforcing control measures statewide. [2]
The two primary wildfire seasons in Mississippi: January–March and July–November. [3]
The Mississippi Wildfire Threat Profile indicates that peak wildfire danger occurs in February and March, when hot, dry, and windy weather substantially elevates ignition potential. During these periods, the U.S. National Weather Service often issues Red Flag Warnings, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission may implement temporary burn bans. [4]
