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Alabama under fire alert, burning restriction

A wildfire, due to drought conditions, broke out on Bone Dry Road in Kimberly, Ala., on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Forestry officials are banning outside burning across most of Alabama because of fast-spreading wildfires. Coleen Vansant, of the Alabama Forestry Commission, says the fire alert took effect Monday and covers 46 of the state's 67 counties. A wildfire, due to drought conditions, broke out on Bone Dry Road in Kimberly, Ala., on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Forestry officials are banning outside burning across most of Alabama because of fast-spreading wildfires. Coleen Vansant, of the Alabama Forestry Commission, says the fire alert took effect Monday and covers 46 of the state's 67 counties.

By Associated Press September 25, 2019 1 min read

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama is under a statewide fire alert because of extremely dry weather.

The Alabama Forestry Commission issued the alert Wednesday. It was an upgrade from a previously issued fire danger advisory.

The extremely dry weather means any fire can quickly spread out of control.

The commission said over the last week Commission firefighters responded to 182 wildfires across Alabama, burning about 2,608 acres (1,055 hectares). Those included a 470-acre (190 hectare) fire in Talladega County and a 39-acre (16 hectare) fire in DeKalb County.

The commission said permits for outdoor burning will be restricted and issued on an individual basis at the discretion of the state forester. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a permit could face prosecution.