All 67 counties in Alabama are experiencing drought and the Alabama Forestry Commission has issued a Fire Alert, meaning outdoor burning permits will be restricted to only Certified Prescribed Burn Managers.
“With no measurable rain in sight, the continued extremely dry conditions create dangerous wildfire behavior,” said State Forester Rick Oates. “These conditions create the potential for fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer and more of the agency’s firefighting resources to contain. Fast-moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.”
Anyone who burns a field, grassland or woodland without a permit may be subject to a Class B misdemeanor.
The Fire Alert will remain in effect until Monday, although conditions will be reevaluated to determine if it needs to be extended. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham said it is unlikely that low to medium rain chances over the next few days will do anything to alleviate the drought.
The Forestry Commission reported 387 wildfires in the past month.
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