JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is now accepting applications for its “Fire on the Forty” program, which helps private landowners use prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat and land management.
Officials said the 2026 application period opened May 1 and will run through June 19. Approved projects will be funded through April 30, 2027.
The program promotes the use of controlled, or prescribed, burns on private lands to support native plant growth, reduce invasive vegetation and lower the risk of more destructive wildfires. Prescribed fire is widely considered a key tool for managing forests and wildlife habitats across the South, but many landowners avoid it due to cost and liability concerns.
Through the initiative, eligible landowners in selected counties may receive reimbursement for up to 75% of the cost of conducting prescribed burns, up to a maximum per-acre rate.
Applications are competitively ranked based on factors such as potential habitat benefits, with funding decisions made by Mississippi Partners for Fish and Wildlife.
The program also includes an educational component, offering workshops that combine classroom instruction with hands-on field experience. Topics include fire planning, safety, ignition techniques and legal considerations. Workshops are held across the state, often in partnership with agencies such as the Mississippi Forestry Commission and Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Since its launch in 2015, the program has supported prescribed burns on more than 100,000 acres of private land and provided training to more than 1,200 landowners. It has also been recognized nationally, receiving a 2026 Land Stewardship Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Officials said the program’s broader goal is to create connected habitat areas that benefit wildlife such as bobwhite quail and rabbits, while encouraging more landowners to adopt prescribed burning practices.
More information, including application details and workshop schedules, is available through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
