By TRACY DASH and RYAN LaFONTAINE
Biloxi Sun Herald (Mississippi)
Dry, windy conditions combined with dead vegetation left by Hurricane Katrina created a volatile situation for firefighters who were busy this weekend battling several brush fires in the three coastal counties.
The latest blaze ignited in Gulfport Sunday morning at an abandoned chemical plant on Three Rivers Road near County Barn Road. Thick, gray smoke billowed from the wooded area, floating across a busy Three Rivers Road and as far north as Interstate 10.
Although fire officials are not positive about what caused the blaze in Gulfport, they suspect it started from a campfire that was not properly extinguished. The property, once occupied by Chemfax, has become a haven to several homeless people living in tents.
Firefighters extinguishing the blaze found some people still in the tents Sunday morning and told them to leave for safety reasons.
Building a campfire, however, violates the county’s burn ban, which has been in effect for several weeks and likely will remain in effect until the area gets a good rainfall. The last significant rainfall in South Mississippi was more than a month ago.
Hancock and Jackson counties also have burn bans, but that hasn’t stopped some people from burning trash or other items there.
“A burn ban is in effect not only because of dry conditions that we’ve had, but brush and downed trees from the hurricane intensifies the fire and makes it more dangerous,” said District Chief Donald Knox with the Gulfport Fire Department.
Violators can be fined or face other penalties.
A handful of people temporarily were evacuated Saturday in Hancock County after a trash fire near Old Joe Moran Road got out of control and spread to nearby homes. It threatened more than 250 homes and burned 485 acres.
Kiln Fire Chief Scott Bilbo said firefighters managed to contain the blaze before any structures were damaged.
Hancock firefighters believed it was out Saturday night, Bilbo said, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission created a fire break with a bulldozer to prevent it from spreading. However, remaining hot spots sparked again, causing the fire to reignite and firefighters worked into the day Sunday to extinguish it.
Knox said burning a small pile of leaves might not seem like it would cause problems. However, the pile will smolder for several hours and could start again.
“Small embers and wind can carry it and burn other people’s property,” Knox said.
The quick-moving blaze in Gulfport on Sunday threatened two businesses, Steel Smith Inc. and Williams Paving Crushing Plant, until firefighters got it under control. It burned between five to 10 acres.
More than a dozen men worked much of the afternoon to stop it from spreading. While no one was injured, there were several explosions in the woods that could have harmed firefighters.
Chemfax was a chemical company that made synthetic hydrocarbon resins and waxes used in paint, varnish and adhesives. There were fires and explosions that injured employees at the plant while it was in operation. The plant closed in 1995.
The site was cleaned about six years ago.
Tips to avoid causing wildfires
Dry and windy weather, coupled with carelessness, can turn a small fire into one that gets out of hand. Protect your property by following these simple tips:
Trim excess vegetation and remove piles of leaves, straw and twigs.
Keep grass trimmed.
Clear roof of overhanging branches, pine straw and leaves.
Keep all flammable materials, including firewood, mulch, lumber, bagged leaves and pine straw, away from structures.
Have shovel, rake and water supply handy and post the numbers of your county forester and volunteer fire department by your phone.
Check with local officials to see if there is a ban on outdoor burning in your county.
Think twice before you burn.
- MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY COMMISSION
*Burn ban*
Extreme dry conditions and dead vegetation prompted Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties to implement a burn ban several weeks ago. Despite the ban, firefighters have been busy battling numerous blazes. The ban likely will be in effect until the area gets a significant amount of rainfall. Weather forecasts show the next chance of rain for the area will be Wednesday, when a 30 percent chance with isolated thunderstorms is expected.