JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour has lifted a statewide burn ban.

Barbour made the announcement today, after heavy rain moved through much of the state Tuesday. More rain was expected today. In the past 24 hours, Warren County received a little more than 1 1/2 inches of rain.

The governor had declared a state of emergency on Oct. 6 banning all outdoor burning because of the dry conditions that had plagued Mississippi for weeks.

Officials with the Mississippi Forestry Commission recommended lifting the ban. However, 17 counties remain under local bans.

Warren County Volunteer Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy said this morning that the local burn ban expired Sunday.

The county was already “good to go,” Worthy said.