There is another season floating in the air beside Christmas.

Winter’s presence is marked not only by cooler temperatures, but lower humidity as high pressure areas move into the south bringing dryer air along with the low temperatures — a mixture that can leave the ground and vegetation dryer than normal and more prone to grass and wood fires.

Although the Vicksburg-Warren County area has so far exceeded its annual rainfall total by more than five inches, only .18 inches have fallen since Dec. 1, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Drought Monitor shows Warren County in a moderate drought condition. Winds of 15 to 20 mph are forecast for the weekend.

“There is no burn ban in the county, but we are asking people not to burn outside,” Warren County emergency Management Director John Elfer said. “We had a grass fire Thursday night on Porters Chapel Road that county firefighters put out. We really don’t want people burning until conditions get better.

“We’re forecast to get a half-inch of rain over the weekend, and that may help.”

Weather forecasts also call for rain Monday and Tuesday and later in the week, but county fire coordinator Jerry Briggs said that may not provide much relief.

“It will help, but with the low temperatures and the wind, it will dry out quickly,” he said. “We’ll have to watch it and see what happens.”

If someone wants to burn trash, Elfer said, they should not leave it unattended, and make sure the fire is contained.

“It would also help if they called 911 at 601-631-8800 to let them know someone will be burning outside, or they can call the emergency management office or the fire coordinator.”

Anyone who wants to burn in the city limits will need permission from the city before they can start a fire.

“They can call the fire department and we will come out and look at the area,” Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk said. “Call us the day you plan to burn; don’t call us and say, ‘I’m going to burn next month,’ because conditions change.”

He said firefighters will look at the area where the fire will be lit to ensure it’s not to close to homes, and to make sure the conditions are all right to burn. They will also look at the material to be burned. Burning building materials like roofing material, and other materials such as tires, is prohibited by city ordinance, and the firefighters can determine if the material can safely and legally be burned.