Gov. Phil Bryant on Friday lifted the statewide burn ban, which had been in force since Oct. 11, in all but 15 counties, where county officials continued the ban.

Warren County’s burn ban was lifted Friday, as well, said John Elfer, director of Warren County Emergency Management.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission requested the governor’s ban to be lifted due to the amount of precipitation received throughout the area covered by the partial state level burn ban.

Also, the extended weather forecast predicted the continued probability of significant rainfall.

Bryant urged residents to continue to use care when engaging in outdoor burning activities, and check the weather forecast. Do not burn on windy days, and find out if there is a burn ban in your area before doing any outdoor burning, he urged.

“We would like to commend our MFC employees, and thank local Volunteer Fire Departments, who have done an outstanding job during this dangerous time. MFC Wildland Firefighters have been working day and night suppressing 1,166 wildfires that burned 10,943 acres since the beginning of September,” said Charlie Morgan, state forester.  “Each one of them worked long hours to protect people’s lives, homes, and forestland.”

The 15 counties where burn bans remain in effect include Calhoun, Claiborne, Franklin, George, Hinds, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lincoln, Sharkey, Simpson and Stone.