Periodic fire played an important ecological role in shaping southern forests and grasslands. However, anti-fire campaigns, changing land use, and liability issues have drastically reduced its use across the southern landscape.

The Mississippi Prescribed Fire Council is an concerted effort of federal, state and private stakeholders to promote the wise use of prescribed fire to best manage Mississippi's natural resources.

The mission of the Mississippi Prescribed Fire Council is to partner all entities with a vested interest in prescribed fire to increase occurrence of burning on public and private lands to restore ecological function, enhance wildlife and plant communities, and reduce hazardous forest or grassland fuel loads. The Council will encourage the exchange of information among practitioners and advance public understanding of the importance and benefits of prescribed fire.