Lake Volunteer Fire Department

10/14/2026

📢 🚨🚨IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨🚨
Scott County is currently under an OFFICIAL BURN BAN through November 2nd.
Due to dry weather, ALL OPEN FLAMES AND OUTDOOR BURNING ARE PROHIBITED.
🛑 NO Fire Pits or Chimineas
🛑 NO Campfires or Bonfires
🛑 NO Debris, Leaf, or Yard Waste Burning
🛑 NO Burn Barrels
Embers travel fast in dry conditions! Only gas/propane grills are recommended at this time. Please do your part to prevent accidental wildfires.
Thank you for keeping Scott County safe! 🚒🔥

Not only are you putting yourself and your neighbors in danger you are also endangering every firefighter that is responding to a preventable fire.

10/12/2026

🚨🚨🚨 Scott county is now under a burn ban until November 2 please do not burn anything.

10/09/2026

Fire departments cannot issue burn bans, but we ask that you please DO NOT BURN THIS WEEKEND!

https://www.wjtv.com/weather/tropics/mississippi-faces-high-wildfire-risk-as-isaias-approaches/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAU1_dpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUP8Il8jZVD8dDd1MxmXvTH9-Kb_1cHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR57dAxmBWg5Aiml9Jv28hESXhfxFJdZQ7_oxnSRjzp7zU-vbIEhaxcF0FaBSg_aem_JXWNxyfgZbp0C8AhDlRJRA

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) warned of a high wildfire risk on October 9, 2026. Officials said a critical combination of dry air, near-record high tempera…

10/09/2026

FRIDAY WEATHER UPDATE SCOTT & NEWTON COUNTIES, October 9, Based on the 10 a.m. NHC advisory and 10:08 a.m. NWS Jackson statement

Isaias is now a CATEGORY 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph. The center is moving north-northeast at 16 mph and is expected to reach the western Florida Panhandle coast THIS EVENING. The forecast has changed: NHC now expects Isaias to remain at or near major hurricane strength at landfall. Please don’t count on the earlier weakening forecast to make this storm harmless.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR AREA
Newton County remains under a Tropical Storm Watch. Scott County is not included in that watch in the latest NWS Jackson statement. Lake FD serves BOTH counties, and we are watching our entire service area. The center is still forecast to pass east of us and move north through Alabama. The greatest Mississippi impacts are expected generally across eastern and southeastern portions of the state. For our area, the concerns are gusty winds, broken limbs, downed trees, possible power outages, and periods of rain that could cause localized flooding. Tropical storm force winds remain possible across portions of eastern and southeastern Mississippi. NWS also notes gusty winds are possible elsewhere across central Mississippi on Saturday. Those 120 mph sustained winds are near the hurricane’s center. They are NOT the forecast for Lake, Scott County or Newton County.

PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES
The storm will move inland quickly, carrying damaging winds beyond the coast while it weakens. Its wind field has expanded: tropical storm force winds now extend outward up to 205 miles from the center, although not equally far in every direction. NWS Jackson lists possible scattered power and communications outages across eastern and southeastern Mississippi. Charge phones and battery packs now, have flashlights ready, and make a backup plan for anyone who depends on electricity-powered medical equipment. Stay away from downed lines and anything touching them. Report routine outages to your electric provider; call 911 for an immediate emergency.

WHY DIDN’T THE WIND SHEAR WEAKEN IT?
The stronger wind shear arrived, but it has not disrupted Isaias enough to stop its strengthening. NHC says the shear is nearly aligned with the storm’s movement, reducing its effects, while conditions higher in the atmosphere are helping the hurricane ventilate. The high pressure ridge to the east and the upper level trough to the west have been steering the storm northward between them. The old frontal boundary is not a barrier that keeps hurricane weather away from us. Weakening is expected after landfall, but damaging winds can continue well inland during that process.

DON’T USE THE CONE AS A SAFETY LINE
Scott and Newton counties remain west of the forecast center. The greatest tornado threat is expected east of the center, particularly across the Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia, spreading farther inland Saturday. Being west of the track does not eliminate wind or rain impacts. The cone shows uncertainty in the CENTER’S path, not the full reach of hazardous weather. A shift of even 100 miles can change who gets the worst conditions and 100 miles is an example, not a limit. Keep weather alerts on tonight and Saturday. NWS expects conditions to gradually improve from south to north into Saturday evening.

FOR OUR COASTAL FRIENDS
Life threatening storm surge and extremely dangerous winds are expected in the coastal warning areas. Surge could reach 6 to 9 feet above ground from the Alabama Florida border to Grayton Beach where peak surge coincides with high tide. Follow evacuation instructions from local officials and have a safe place to shelter. Prepare for extended power outages.

PLEASE DO NOT BURN
Hold off on burning fields, brush piles and yard debris. We have been dry, and rain in the forecast is not rain that has already fallen. Gusty winds can turn a manageable fire into one you cannot control. Cooler temperatures do not make dry grass safe to burn. Please enjoy the fall weather without setting your fields on fire.

Before conditions worsen:
✅ Secure outdoor furniture, trash cans, decorations and other loose items.
✅ Charge phones and check flashlights.
✅ Check on neighbors who may need help.
✅ Keep generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
✅ Never drive through flooded roads.
✅ Avoid unnecessary travel during strong winds or heavy rain.

Stay prepared and follow NWS Jackson and emergency management updates.

Assistant Chief Landon Devoter
Lake Volunteer Fire Department

10/09/2026

NEW: Hurricane Isaias TO BECOME CAT 3!

The National Hurricane Center now forecasts Hurricane Isaias to become a Category 3 Major Hurricane by 7 AM central time tomorrow morning!

10/09/2026

(See newer update)

THURSDAY NIGHT WEATHER UPDATE OCTOBER
For our Lake-area residents in BOTH Scott and Newton counties. Based on the NHC’s 7 PM advisory and this afternoon’s local alerts.

Isaias is now a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 100 mph. At 7 PM, it was moving northeast at 13 mph, with pressure at 974 mb. More strengthening is expected overnight, with landfall along the northern Gulf Coast late Friday or early Saturday.

NEWTON COUNTY IS UNDER A TROPICAL STORM WATCH. NWS issued that watch at 4:11 PM today. Since LFD serves residents in both Scott and Newton counties, this is directly relevant to our community. The watch means tropical-storm conditions are possible, not guaranteed. The alert names Newton County; it does not establish a watch for Scott County.

WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH HERE?
Friday into Saturday remains the period of concern for rain and gusty winds. The current official track keeps the center east of our area and shifted slightly farther east this afternoon. The strongest impacts remain favored farther east, but wind and rain do not stop at the edge of the cone or the county line. Posted outlooks list gusts up to 35 mph and rainfall of 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible, along with possible localized flooding and outages. That is a posted outlook, not a guaranteed maximum or a forecast for every address. Continue following NWS updates as the storm gets closer. NHC also now specifically includes extreme eastern Mississippi in its discussion of possible damaging inland wind gusts, along with much of central and northern Alabama and parts of Georgia. That is not a prediction of hurricane-force winds throughout Mississippi.

HOW STRONG COULD IT GET?
The latest full forecast, issued at 4 PM, calls for maximum sustained winds near the center of 110 mph early Friday, 100 mph Friday afternoon, and 75 mph early Saturday with the center inland. Tonight’s 7 PM advisory updates current conditions; it does not provide a new track forecast. Those numbers describe the strongest winds near the storm’s center. They are NOT the winds being forecast for Lake. Warm Gulf waters, including a warm eddy along its projected path, are expected to support additional strengthening overnight. Increasing wind shear should cause some weakening as it approaches the coast, but NHC still expects a dangerous hurricane through landfall. Its wind field is expected to expand, and strong gusts can continue inland. Tropical-storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 125 miles from the center. That reach varies around the storm, it is not a uniform circle.

WHAT’S STEERING IT?
The ridge extending from the Bahamas toward Florida and the trough near the northwestern Gulf Coast are steering Isaias northeast, with a northward turn expected Friday. An old frontal boundary is still present tonight across central Florida into the north-central Gulf. It is producing showers and thunderstorms, while high pressure over the southeastern U.S. is contributing to stronger northeast-to-east winds north of it. That boundary is not a protective wall keeping the hurricane away. With the forecast center east of us, our area remains on the western side. The east/right side of a northward-moving hurricane often has greater wind and tornado concerns, but being west of the center does not guarantee no impacts. The cone shows uncertainty in the CENTER’S path, not the entire area affected by weather. A shift of 100 miles can change who gets the worst impacts; that is an example, not a limit on possible changes.

FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST
Coastal warnings remain unchanged. The Hurricane Warning extends from Ocean Springs to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. The Storm Surge Warning extends from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River. Potential surge reaches 5-7 feet from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass, including Mobile Bay, if peak surge occurs at high tide. Rainfall of 4-8 inches, locally up to 15, is forecast across southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend, and southwestern Georgia. Those are regional forecasts, not rainfall totals being promised here. The tornado threat is currently focused on coastal Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and far southwestern Georgia Friday night, then eastern Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle Saturday.

PLEASE USE SOME COMMON SENSE THIS WEEKEND. Secure loose outdoor items, charge phones and battery packs, check flashlights, and make sure alerts can wake you up. Check on neighbors who may need help, especially anyone depending on electrically powered medical equipment. If you depend on said equipment, please contact your supplier and get backups. Do not drive through flooded roads. Report routine power outages to your electric provider, not 911. If there is an immediate threat to life, a fire, or a medical emergency, call 911.

And PLEASE HOLD OFF ON BURNING. We have not had enough rain to make burning a good idea. Rain in the forecast is not rain on the ground, and cooler fall temperatures do not make dry grass safe. With wind in the picture, please just don’t. Enjoy the fall weather without setting your fields, or your neighbor’s, on fire. We are not telling everybody to panic. We are telling residents in both counties to stay informed and be prepared. A watch in part of our service area deserves attention, even with the strongest impacts currently forecast farther east.

The next full NHC update is scheduled for 10 PM.

Assistant Chief Landon Devoter
Lake Fire

10/08/2026

(See newer update)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 HURRICANE UPDATE
Based on the National Hurricane Center’s 10 AM advisory.

Sorry I didn’t get an update posted yesterday. Here’s where things stand this morning and what we need to watch here at home.

Isaias became a hurricane overnight and now has sustained winds of 85 mph. It is moving east-northeast at 10 mph, with pressure at 975 mb. Additional strengthening is expected through early Friday, with a forecast peak of 110 mph, a Category 2 hurricane. Landfall is expected Friday night into early Saturday along the east-central or northeastern Gulf Coast. Those wind speeds are near the hurricane’s center. They are NOT a forecast of 110 mph winds in Lake.

The official track hasn’t changed much with this update. It currently keeps the center east of Lake and Scott County, putting us on the western side if that forecast holds. The strongest impacts are presently favored farther east, but the storm’s size and final track still matter.

WHAT’S MAKING IT TURN NORTH?
A high-pressure ridge extending from the Bahamas across Florida is helping steer Isaias around its western side. A trough near the northwestern Gulf Coast is also influencing it. Together, they are expected to turn the hurricane northeast, then north over the next day and a half. A weakening stationary front remains across the northeastern Gulf and is expected to dissipate today. That front is not a wall keeping the hurricane away, and the front weakening does not mean the hurricane is weakening.

WHAT ABOUT WIND SHEAR?
Stronger wind shear is expected as Isaias approaches the coast, which should cause some weakening before landfall. Right now, though, warm water and moisture are supporting strengthening despite the shear already present. Satellite imagery shows the eye becoming better enclosed, a feature that can precede rapid intensification. The official forecast calls for approximately 105 mph winds tonight, 110 mph Friday morning, and 100 mph Friday evening. Some weakening is expected, not disappearance. NHC still expects a dangerous hurricane at landfall, with an expanding wind field and gusty winds extending inland.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LAKE AND SCOTT COUNTY?
Friday into Saturday is the period to keep watching for rain and gusty winds. Our impacts will depend on the final track, storm size, and how quickly it weakens inland. We do not have a specific Lake wind speed or rainfall total from these advisories. The east/right side of a northward-moving hurricane often has greater wind and tornado concerns. With the current track east of us, we are on the western side. A westward shift could change our position relative to the storm, but that is not a shift the official forecast made this morning. The cone shows uncertainty in where the CENTER will travel. It does not outline the entire storm or mark where dangerous weather stops. A shift of 100 miles can change who gets the worst impacts; 100 miles is an example, not a limit on possible changes.

ON THE COAST AND FARTHER EAST
(we know some of yall are at Cruisin’ the Coast) A Hurricane Warning remains in effect from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to the Bay/Gulf County line in Florida. The Storm Surge Warning now stretches from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Suwannee River in Florida. Potential surge reaches 5–7 feet from Ocean Springs to Indian Pass, including Mobile Bay, if peak surge occurs at high tide.The regional rainfall forecast is 3–7 inches along the central Gulf Coast into Florida’s Big Bend, with isolated totals up to 15 inches, particularly in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend. Those are NOT rainfall totals being forecast for Lake. NHC also highlights damaging inland winds across central and northern Alabama and parts of western and northern Georgia. Friday night’s tornado threat is focused on coastal Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and far southwestern Georgia, then eastern Alabama, Georgia, and northern Florida Saturday.

HERE AT HOME
Secure loose outdoor items, charge phones and battery packs, check flashlights, and make sure weather warnings can wake you up. Keep following local NWS and emergency management updates for conditions specific to our area.

AND PLEASE HOLD OFF ON BURNING. We have not had enough rain to make burning a good idea, and wind can turn a small fire into somebody else’s emergency in a hurry. Do not count on rain that hasn’t fallen yet, or an inch of rain if it does fall. Even if Saturday brings those nice fall temperatures and a few showers, cooler air and an inch of rain does not make dry grass safe to burn. Enjoy the fall weather without setting your fields, or your neighbor’s, on fire. Please just don’t burn right now.

The hurricane is stronger this morning, but the official track has not made a major move toward us. We’ll keep watching both. Being prepared doesn’t mean panicking, and being outside the worst forecast area doesn’t mean we stop paying attention. The next intermediate advisory is at 1 PM, with the next full forecast at 4 PM.

Of course, we stand ready to respond to our communities’ needs if necessary. I feel as though wind will be our biggest issue.

Assistant Chief Landon Devoter
Lake Fire Department

10/07/2026

(See newer update)

WEDNESDAY MIDDAY TROPICS UPDATE OCTOBER 7

Yesterday we were watching Tropical Depression Nine. Today it’s Tropical Storm Isaias, hurricane watches are up along portions of the Gulf Coast, and the forecast calls for a stronger storm than yesterday. At 10 AM, sustained winds were 45 mph, moving east-northeast at about 8 mph. Hurricane Hunters found the center reforming a little farther north and becoming better aligned with the circulation above it. That better organization could help it strengthen quickly.

The NHC says rapid intensification is possible over the next day or two. Water temperatures along the track are near record levels for this time of year, there’s plenty of moisture, and wind shear should be light to moderate during that period. The forecast brings Isaias to hurricane strength Thursday morning, around 90 mph Thursday evening, and approximately 110 mph Friday morning. It then shows about 105 mph Friday evening near the coast. Those are winds near the storm’s center, not a prediction of those winds here in Lake.

Here’s the steering setup. A trough along the northwestern Gulf Coast is expected to strengthen while the high-pressure ridge east of Florida builds westward. Air flows clockwise around that high, and the flow between these features should turn Isaias north and make it move faster toward the northern Gulf Coast by Friday afternoon. There’s also a stationary front across the north-central and northeastern Gulf that is expected to weaken through this evening. That front is not a wall that will stop the storm. A weakening front does not mean a weakening hurricane. It’s a separate feature from the trough helping steer Isaias, and the forecast still calls for substantial strengthening over the Gulf.

The track has nudged east since yesterday, but the NHC says the model guidance is still split. Some models are farther east and others farther west. Several of the stronger scenarios are also farther east and faster. That means we still need to watch both WHERE it goes and HOW QUICKLY it gets there.

For Lake and Scott County, that eastward trend could be favorable. Yesterday we discussed the eastern-side risks if the center passed west of us. If it passes east of us instead, we would be on the western side. That can change our exposure, especially to the greater tornado threat often found east of a northward-moving storm. But a small eastward shift is not enough to promise what happens here.

You’ll hear about possible weakening near landfall. The NHC expects increasing wind shear could cause that, but says it’s uncertain how quickly the winds will diminish. It also expects Isaias to GROW IN SIZE as it approaches the coast and interacts with the trough. So the peak wind speed could drop while the area affected by wind gets larger. “Weakening” does not mean “no longer dangerous.”

Hurricane watches extend from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to Indian Pass, Florida. A storm surge watch extends from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Yankeetown, Florida. Those are coastal watches, not a hurricane watch for Scott County. Anyone in those areas needs to follow local instructions, prepare for potentially lengthy power outages, and evacuate if told to do so.

For us inland, Friday night into Saturday remains the main period to watch. Rain, possible flooding, gusty or damaging winds, downed trees, power outages, and any tornado threat that develops are the concerns. Our exact wind speeds, rainfall totals, and timing still need to be narrowed down. The NHC’s discussion does not give a specific forecast for Lake, and I’m not going to invent one.

The cone shows uncertainty in the path of the CENTER. It does not show the storm’s size or mark the boundary of dangerous weather. A shift of 100 miles east or west could substantially change our impacts, and the forecast can shift farther than that. Weather can also reach well outside the cone.

Get your basics handled while the weather is good. Check water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and chargers. Secure loose items outside. Check on anyone who needs help or depends on electricity for medical equipment. Make sure you have a way to receive warnings that will wake you up overnight.

The honest update is that the track has shifted some east, the forecast intensity has increased, and the storm is expected to expand as it approaches land. All three matter.

Stay prepared, keep following the National Hurricane Center, NWS Jackson, and emergency management, and pay attention to the time on each update. We can recognize a potentially better track for our area without treating it as an all-clear. I’ll update again this evening when the NHC does another update.

-Assistant Chief Landon Devoter
LFD

Photo credit: Mike's Weather Page

10/06/2026

(See newer update)

I’m going to give y’all a straight explanation of why I’m watching this storm. We don’t know exactly what Lake and Scott County will get yet, but I don’t think “nothing to worry about” is the message people need right now.

As of the Tuesday afternoon update being shared, Tropical Depression Nine had sustained winds of 35 mph and was moving east at just 5 mph. That same forecast brings it to tropical-storm strength Wednesday, hurricane strength Thursday, and around 100 mph, a Category 2, by Friday afternoon as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast. That number is for the storm itself, not a prediction of 100 mph winds here at home. It does not have a defined center at this time, and Hurricane Hunter aircraft will be flying into the storm tomorrow where needed data will be gathered.

Here’s what’s behind that forecast. Warm Gulf water and lower wind shear could allow it to strengthen through Thursday. Increasing shear afterward may weaken it before landfall, but weakening does not automatically mean harmless. It could still reach the coast as a dangerous hurricane. The expected turn north is another important part. A high-pressure system is forecast to build over the western Atlantic. Air moves clockwise around that high, and the flow on its western side helps steer the storm north. A low to the west also helps influence its path. Where those systems set up and when that turn happens will help determine which part of the Gulf Coast gets hit.

The forecasts and model runs I’m following have shown possibilities from Louisiana over toward Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. Several hurricane-model runs shared this evening bring a hurricane toward the Mississippi or Alabama coast. They aren’t all agreeing on an exact spot or strength, but they are showing why this needs attention.

A landfall west of Mississippi does not mean Mississippi is fine. If the center passes west of us, that puts us on the eastern side. With a storm moving north, that’s generally the right side, where stronger winds and a greater tornado threat can occur. Along the coast, winds pushing water onshore can also create dangerous storm surge. Here inland, we’d be watching rain, flooding, wind, trees coming down, power outages, and any tornado threat.

Please understand the cone, too. That shaded area shows uncertainty in where the CENTER will travel. It does not show the entire storm. It does not mean everybody outside it is safe, and that line down the middle is not a road the storm has to follow. Yall remember Hurricane Dorian in 2019? We chased that storm approaching landfall from South Florida to Orlando, to the Jacksonville area, Valdosta, GA, and up the East Coast as it hit North Carolina. It was a mess.

A shift of just 100 miles east or west could change our situation considerably. The forecast can shift farther than that, too. Where the center goes matters, but so do the storm’s size, strength, and speed. Looking at one line on one map isn’t enough to decide we’re in the clear.

The updates being shared point to coastal conditions potentially deteriorating Friday, with heavy rain and inland impacts extending into the weekend. Some forecasts discuss 4-6 inches of rain with isolated amounts over 10 inches in affected areas. That is not a rainfall prediction specifically for Lake, but it shows the flooding potential being discussed. The circulation could continue north through Mississippi after landfall, so this isn’t just something for people at the beach to watch.

Get your basic preparations handled now. Water, food you can eat without power, flashlights, batteries, charged power banks, and necessary medications. Check on family members who may need help, especially anyone who depends on powered medical equipment. Secure loose things outside and make sure you can receive warnings overnight. Keep following the National Hurricane Center, NWS Jackson, emergency management, and updated forecasts. Check the date and time on anything you share.

I hope our local impacts turn out to be minor. But hoping for that and telling people they don’t need to pay attention are two different things. We have time to get ready. Use it.

-Assistant Chief Landon Devoter

10/05/2026

Calling all fire, law enforcement, EMS, and dispatch families! 🚒🚓🚑

The Newton County Firefighter’s Association is hosting its First Annual Firefighter Family Day, and you’re invited to bring your spouse and kids for an afternoon together away from the calls.

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 10 AM– approximately 3 PM
📍 Newton County Legion Hut, Post #89 | Decatur, MS

There will be lunch, door prizes, kids’ activities, a dunk booth, and public safety vendors. Come spend some time with the people who understand this life and bring your crew!

Local businesses: If you’d like to donate a door prize for a first responder or their family, please message our page. We’d love to help connect you with the event.

Tag a local first responder family who should be there!