Coosa, other counties added to Fire Danger Advisory
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Advisory now expanded to all Alabama counties
Special to the News
After initially issuing a Fire Danger Advisory for 22 counties last Thursday, on Wednesday the Alabama Forestry Commission expanded the advisory to all Alabama counties.
With the worsening drought conditions and no significant accumulation of rain in the long-range forecast, the Alabama Forestry Commission, or AFC, has now placed all counties across the state under a Fire Danger Advisory, per a press release issued Wednesday, October 30
This advisory is effective immediately and will remain in place until enough precipitation is received to improve drought impacts. Dead pines in the forests which were devastated by southern pine beetles this summer are adding to the increased wildfire potential, as well as challenges to containment efforts.
Abnormally warm and dry conditions in the last month have led to a steady rise in wildfire activity across Alabama. In the past 30 days, 246 wildfires have burned nearly 3,000 acres.
A Fire Danger Advisory indicates that fuels conducive to the start and spread of wildfire are more readily available during a drought. Although the AFC is not currently issuing a burn restriction, the agency strongly discourages any outdoor burning until conditions improve.
Initially, last Thursday the AFC issued the advisory for 22 counties in the west-central and southwest areas of the state. At that time it was stated that abnormally warm and dry conditions leading into November will result in increasing wildfire potential and resistance to control, particularly in forests impacted by drought and beetle kill.
“Dead pine trees from last year’s drought and the resulting southern pine beetle outbreak this year are contributing to fire intensity, which challenges containment efforts and presents additional hazards to firefighters,” said AFC Fire Analyst Ethan Barrett. “This weather pattern featuring above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation is predicted for the next few weeks, allowing for worsening drought impacts and a likely increase in wildfires until more frequent rain returns.”
At the time of last week’s press release, in the past 30 days as of that point the state had 201 wildfires that burned approximately 2,738 acres. About half of those fires and more than half of that acreage occurred within the seven days prior to that, including a 500-acre fire in Calhoun County, one for 220 acres in Greene County, a 105-acre fire in Mobile County, and another 100-acre fire in Calhoun County.
For more information about the wildfire situation in your area or any other forestry-related issues,
contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office or visit the AFC website at www.forestry.alabama.gov.
