BASSFIELD, Miss.–Fires that started Saturday afternoon have burned more than 500 acres near Bassfield, said area Fire Chief Bill Matthews. The fires have destroyed homes and sent at least three firefighters to the hospital. But, fires weren’t only burning there. Several counties saw hundreds of acres burned over the dry weekend.
The firefighters who were hurt in Bassfield were treated for smoke inhalation. The fires were in populated areas and at least two homes burned. One was unoccupied and no one was at home when the other caught fire.
In Copiah County, more than 350 acres burned in a wildfire there that crews battled for over 10 hours, reported WLBT. At least one firefighter there had to go to the ER for smoke inhalation.
In Stone and Pearl River counties, two separate fires were being fought Sunday. Both fires started Sunday morning and the Miss. Forestry Service and firefighters were working to get them contained.
The fires were spread by high winds on Sunday and the Forestry Service was reminding people that burning outdoors is illegal where burn bans are in place.
In Hinds County a man was given a ticket for burning outside during a burn ban, which started a fire over the weekend, reported WLBT.
