Suspect arson in some wildfire incidents

With a possibility of some showers early in the week and high temperatures dropping from the 90s to the 80s at midweek, firefighters are hopeful of at least a little break. But it will take a soaking rain over a long period before the burn ban will be lifted.
Fires over the last couple weeks have had firemen on the move.
The latest fires in the county involved Fourth District, Enon and the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) answering a call to a fire Sunday night on Huey Road.
County fire coordinator, Jimmy Boyd, says officials believe that fire was intentionally set.
“There is evidence of the fire being set in two different places,” he said.
Monday morning, Lexie and Tylertown were called to a fire threatening the Kirklin voting precinct.
A 50 acre grass fire on Henry Smith Road involved Fourth District, MFC and Marion County departments.
A Marion County fire burned about 400 acres near Morgantown and shut down Hwy. 587 for a period of time last Thursday until firefighters from the Mississippi Forestry Commission and county volunteer fire departments brought the blaze under control about 2 a.m. Friday morning. MFC was still on the scene at 8 a.m. Friday to guard against recurrence.
Foxworth Volunteer Fire Dept., South Marion Volunteer Fire Dept., Southwest Marion Volunteer Fire Dept., Pine Burr Volunteer Fire Dept., Tri-Community VFD, Marion County Emergency Management, and Walthall County 4th District Fire Dept., responded with manpower and equipment.
MFC had six dozers on scene.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office – Mississippi, Mississippi Highway Patrol, and Mississippi Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control. AAA Ambulance Service responded as well to standby, due to the dangerous heat.
The MFC responded with several dozers, crews, and an airplane, that put a containment line around the fire. Approximately 30 structures were successfully protected by fire crews and approximately 400 acres were burned.
Boyd said while a slight break in the heat and some showers were forecast early in the week, it will take several inches of drenching rain in order to get enough moisture in the ground to end the burn ban.
“Just because it rains doesn’t mean the burn ban is lifted,” he said.
Earlier a 400 acre forest fire in Lawrence County had several departments responding.
Fire departments from several counties including Lincoln and Lawrence responded along with Walthall firefighters, sending three trucks from Fourth District and one truck from Enon, along with the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Eventually water was dumped from the air to control the blaze,
A portion of Hwy. 27 was closed to traffic as smoke and haze from the fire made visibility impossible.
The fire burned along the east side of Hwy. 27, just north of Hwy. 84, and came within a half-mile of Monticello. A big forest fire burned over 400 acres in Lawrence County before being brought under control.
Not only are the fires destroying forest land, they’re having an effect on fire personnel and equipment.
“Firemen are subject to heat stroke from the heat of the fire, exertion and the gear they wear,” Boyd said.
He also stressed that the public needs to be on the lookout for wildfires, suspected arson fires, and those violating the burn ban.
“The sheriff’s department can arrest those suspected of causing fires. If found guilty they face a stiff fine,” Boyd said.