Hancock County fire has burned 419 acres as firefighters work to contain it, officials say

A fire that began Wednesday in Hancock County burned 419 acres by Thursday afternoon as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, Mississippi authorities said.

The fire was 75 percent contained by 2 p.m., Mississippi Forestry Commission outreach officer Kevin Craft said.

It is burning between Bayou La Croix Road and Highway 90, near the Hancock County Jail, Craft said.

Firefighters lit controlled burns to contain the woods fire at about 1 p.m., Craft said. After that, he said, the fire jumped from 40 to 75 percent contained.

The jail and a nearby RV park are not under threat and have not been evacuated, Hancock County Emergency Manager Brian Adam said Thursday morning.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook there were “no plans to evacuate the jail unless there is a direct threat to the safety of the inmates and personnel.” The department said it was monitoring the fire.

The blaze is burning in areas with few residents, Adam said, and did not appear to have threatened structures or homes.

The fire sent smoke across Highway 90 on Thursday, and authorities asked residents to be cautious around the area.

The fire’s cause is undetermined, Craft and Adam said. It began Wednesday afternoon and flared up in the evening, Adam said.

Gusty winds Wednesday night carried the fire’s smoke far enough that some New Orleans residents woke Thursday morning to the smell of campfire, the Times-Picayune reported.

Emergency responders began fighting the fire Wednesday night.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

This story was originally published February 29, 2024 at 8:27 AM.