Dry conditions have prompted supervisors to seek a ban on outdoor burning for Adams County.

Supervisors voted Monday to ask the State Forestry Commission to grant the ban.

Even though vegetation is green during August as opposed to fall and winter, Adams County Civil Defense Director George Souderes said he still worried about the lack of rainfall in Adams County

&uot;I’m concerned because of the lack of moisture in the ground,&uot; Souderes said. &uot;I’d hate somebody to throw in my yard (right now),&uot; he said.

Rain is also not in the forecast for the near future.

&uot;The long forecast was for us not to get but traces of rain for the next seven days,&uot; Souderes said.

And some officials with the volunteer fire department have said they are concerned about this, Souderes said.

To implement a burning ban, a new state law requires counties to get approval from the State Forestry Commission.

The supervisors must first mail a letter to the commissions Brookhaven with the Jackson Office making the final decision, said Adams County Forester, Charles Wellborn.

It will probably take one to two weeks for the State Forestry Commission to rule on the ban, Wellborn said.

The commission will look at factors such as an area’s drought index, its rainfall deficit and the number of fires occurring when making a decision, he said.

Natchez Fire Chief Gary Winborne agreed conditions are dry this month but said the time of year has kept grass fires to a minimum.

&uot;It’s dry but honestly at this time of year you don’t have people burning leaves or gardens right now,&uot; he said.

From May to August, Winborne said the fire department has worked from three to eight grass fires a month which is not any higher than last year.

City resident can only burn leaves or other items in the city limits if they have a permit, Winborne.

County residents are not under any restrictions.

Chad Entremount, of the National Weather Service in Jackson, said the Jackson area receives an average of 4.51 inches of rain in July but only received 1.86 inches in July 2000.

The Jackson area received 5.82 inches of rain in June 2000, with an average of 3.18 inches.

And Souderes said the Natchez Water Works reported 7/10 inches of rain in July and 4 8/10 inches in June for Adams County.

If the forestry commission approves the ban, anyone convicted could be fined from $100 to $500.