Arson Suspected In Mississippi Wildfire
The Mississippi Forestry Commission says arson or carelessness started a fire that burned about 850 acres in Jackson County.
A nursing home and hundreds of homes were evacuated Saturday, but Jackson County Emergency Management Agency director David Langham says no buildings burned. He says the fire is contained and forestry agents were checking hot spots Sunday.
Forestry Commmission dispatch supervisor Cathy Bond says the cause is listed as “incendiary” – caused by people rather than nature – and is being investigated.
It started about 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
Crews from three area fire departments, the U.S. Forestry Commission and the Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge battled the fire.
Forestry Commission official Randy Wilson says smoke from smoldering vegetation could impair visibility along Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 for a few days.
