A fire broke out near a home Friday afternoon in Lafayette County at the intersection of Old Taylor Road and County Road 323.
Officials are unsure how the blaze began, but were able to localize the start of the fire to the woods very close to the home.
According to Raleigh Sprouse, training officer for the Lafayette County fire station, it was the fourth fire put out in Lafayette County on Friday.
“They had numerous homes in danger, but there was no major damage to home,” Sprouse said. “Mainly, we had a lot of people on the scene, a good turnout of people and a good turnout of equipment. And we worked really fast.”
Many firefighters had to leave the scene of another fire on County Road 418 to help put out the flames on Old Taylor.
Sprouse said Friday was a very busy day for the station after the multiple fires ravaged through the county, with every available worker on the clock.
“It stretched us to the limit as far as man power goes,” Sprouse said.
The station received the call at 3:59 p.m. and had the majority of the fire under control shortly after arriving on scene.
The station utilized five fire engines and three squad trucks to put out the flames on Old Taylor, while 18 fire personnel, including the chief, helped on the scene to put out possible flare-ups.
Local law enforcement officers were present to direct traffic away from the flames on the small two-lane county road.
Neighbors could be seen hosing down their yards with garden hoses in an attempt to save their own yards and homes from wandering ashes that had the potential to set more fires.
Lafayette County is not currently under a burn ban, but Mississippi Forestry Commission officer Tymple Turner believes the county may be headed in that direction. Monroe, Marshall and Union were all added to the burn ban list Oct. 19.
“I know Lafayette County is having a supervisor’s meeting today sometime, so I feel like it’s coming but it’s not yet official,” Turner said.
Officials are asking residents not to burn anything for the safety of homes and individuals during this drought. Turner said an open flame is not needed to cause a fire, just a small spark and the right conditions.
“One of the fires in Lafayette County on Fudgetown Road (County Road 418) was started from somebody sharpening a blade on a piece of equipment,” Turner said. “So even just a simple little spark can start a fire, and it can get out of hand really quickly with this wind and as dry as it is.”
