South MS fire burning 300 acres, threatening several structures and ‘still growing’

Editor’s note: As of Thursday, the fire has burned 800 acres, and is not yet contained.

A fire burned 300 acres and was threatening 10 structures Wednesday afternoon in Harrison County, Mississippi fire officials said.

The fire is north of Interstate 10 near Carson Road and White Star Road, Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said. It jumped from 75 acres earlier Wednesday to 300 acres by 4:30 p.m., according to the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

“We’re steadily working it,” Sullivan said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s still growing.”

Ten structures are threatened but firefighters are working to protect them, Forestry Commission spokesperson Shannon Coker said. The fire was zero percent contained around 4:30 p.m.

Coker said she was aware of no evacuations as of 5:20 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning on Wednesday for the Mississippi Coast. Low humidity and 15 to 20 mph winds put the region at high risk for fires, and forecasters asked residents to avoid burning under those conditions. The warning extends through 7 p.m.

The U.S. Forest Service, Mississippi Forestry Commission and local fire departments were are at the scene Wednesday afternoon, Coker said. Sullivan said Harrison County Fire Rescue and Gulfport Fire are also fighting the fire.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 4:45 PM.