RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Rankin County deputies said a controlled burn got out of control on Friday, February 28 and is now endangering multiple homes.

Investigator Tyler Burnell, with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, said a dispatcher received a call about the fire around 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28.

Multiple volunteer fire departments were dispatched to help control the forest fire. The response had to be upgraded to include additional apparatuses. The Rankin County Emergency Operations Center and the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) has also dispatched multiple units.

According to Burnell, the fire has consumed and burned several hundred acres, endangering multiple homes as it moves eastward from Rankin County toward Scott County.

Deputies have set roadblocks at Noblin Bridge Road and Loyd Irby Road. They have also begun evacuating homes in the fire’s path. Burnell said additional roadways are likely to be closed and further evacuations are likely to take place.

Just before 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the incident commanders on the ground issued an “all-call” requesting any available fire apparatuses in the county be dispatched the scene. 

Burnell said currently, there are in excessive 30 fire and law enforcement units in the area working to combat the fire and blocking roadways to ensure the safety of residents and drivers. 

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey approved the use of surveillance drones to remotely monitor the status of the firefighting efforts.