A statewide fire alert was recently issued due to ongoing drought conditions and low humidity that has caused wildfires to burn 2,300 acres of land in Alabama.
According to the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) 382 acres were burned in Choctaw County along with several others over the weekend.
Approximately 15,850 acres of forestland has been destroyed across the state, said AFC's announcement.
“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.”
The alert will be in effect until April 20. Permits will be reevaluated but new permits will only be issued to certified prescribed burn managers.
Residents were also reminded that burning in a field, grassland, or woodland without a burn permit may result in prosecution for a Class B misdemeanor.
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