MADISON COUNTY, Miss. --
Fire investigators say a brush fire that consumed about 600 acres in Madison County was intentionally set.
The fire broke out at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in a heavily wooded area off Highway 43 and Honeysuckle Road, fire officials said. It took crews from eight fire departments six hours to put out the blaze, which, at one point threatened several homes and buildings, fire officials said. Residents in a nearby mobile home park were evacuated for a short time, fire officials said.
The fire was still smoldering Wednesday morning.
Matt Steed, an investigator with the Mississippi Forestry Commission, said Wednesday that the fire did not start accidentally and has been ruled arson. The Forestry Commission is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to a conviction. Officials said the penalty carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and a fine up to $1,000.
Gov. Haley Barbour on Wednesday declared a state of emergency banning all outdoor burning because of extremely dry conditions statewide.
The dry conditions have increased the risk for wildfires, and forest fires already have burned wide areas of Mississippi, causing damage to public and private property and timberland, Barbour said.
"Everyone across the state needs to take the threat of wildfire seriously," Barbour said. "These dry conditions can cause fires to quickly spread out of control. I urge everyone to be mindful of how you dispose of flammable objects, such as cigarettes and matches, and to refrain from burning trash or leaves."
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