The Mississippi Forestry Commission approved a burn ban for Adams County the same day it was requested by county officials.

Charles Wellborne of the state commission said the department received the request Thursday morning and by that afternoon it was approved.

The ban prohibits residents from burning trash and other debris within the city limits.

The ban will be in place from Aug. 24 to Oct. 24. Anyone found to be in violation of the burn ban can be fined $100 to $500.

&uot;I definitely believe it’s well intended and a good idea,&uot;&160;said Stan Owens, commander with the Natchez Fire Department.

Because of dry conditions, the Adams County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the ban during its Aug. 7 meeting.

But under a new state law, local officials cannot adopt a burn ban unless the State Forestry Commission also approves it.

The law made some local officials think it could take days to approve the ban instead of such a short time period.

Adams&160;County Civil Defense Director George&160;Souderes said he was pleased the state office &uot;did their fact finding and passed it so quickly.&uot;

Local officials wanted the ban because of the high number of recent grass fires in the county.

City and volunteer fire officers worked more than 20 grass fires this month, included four calls on Aug. 13.

During August 1999, the fire department only had five calls for the entire month, said Natchez Fire Chief Gary Winborne.

&uot;There’s obviously a need&uot; for the burn ban, he said. &uot;I don’t think that’s too hard to see.&uot;