Update: Woods fire on MS Coast burns 280 acres and smoke could linger for days
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- Woods fire in Hancock County expanded to about 200 acres Thursday afternoon.
- Fire crews reported containment between 5 and 10 percent and guarded homes.
- Strong winds hampered suppression; cause remained unclear during active response.
A woods fire that sparked Thursday burned almost 300 acres across rural Hancock County before firefighters contained almost all the flames, the Mississippi Forestry Commission said.
Firefighters were called just after noon on Thursday to the area near Rocky Hill Dedeaux Road and Highway 603.
By Friday morning, the fire had covered 280 acres and was 90 percent contained, said Kevin Craft, an outreach officer for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. The acreage number jumped from around 200 on Thursday, and officials warned the number could change on Friday as authorities assess the full extent of the flames.
Firefighters protected all nearby homes, and Craft said fire officials had heard no reports by Friday morning of any destroyed structures. Parts of Hancock County were smoky early Thursday, and Craft warned significant smoke could linger across the region for days unless it rains.
It is unclear what sparked the blaze. But woods fires are common across South Mississippi in October, which is usually a dry month. Just 10 percent of the fire was contained by 3:30 p.m. Thursday, and breezy conditions also challenged efforts to extinguish it.
“The wind is blowing real hard, which is making it difficult,” Hancock County Emergency Manager Brian “Hooty” Adam said Thursday afternoon. “They’re working very hard to get it under control, but unfortunately this wind is not helping.”
Almost all of Hancock County was in a moderate drought this week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Parts of Harrison and Jackson counties are in a severe drought. The conditions often lead to more wildfires than normal.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM.