NEW: Burn ban lifted in Alabama, although drought conditions remain
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Governor Kay Ivey declared a statewide burn ban on Nov. 8. when more than half the state geographically experienced severe and extreme drought. However, after a rainy week in North Alabama, the Alabama Forestry Commission has lifted the ban for the time being.
Burn ban lifted, but some counties under ‘fuel advisory’
According to a statement by the Alabama Forestry Commission, burn permits will be issued as normal by the AFC. But 11 counties in northeast Alabama will remain under a ‘fuel advisory,’ meaning extra safety precautions are required during burning because of the abnormally dry conditions:
- Blount
- Calhoun
- Cherokee
- Clay
- Cleburne
- Etowah
- Jefferson
- Randolph
- Shelby
- St. Clair
- Talladega
“Although we still have not received enough rain to eliminate drought conditions in all areas of the state, we are beginning to see a wetter pattern. With higher humidities and good recovery occurring at night from dew fall, surface fuels have moved out of critical fire danger thresholds and the chance of significant wildfire potential has decreased across the state.”
Rick Oates, State Forester
Oates also said to remember the following precautions when burning:
- Rake or plow around the pile you plan to burn.
- Water the soil to full saturation to prevent the fire from escaping the firebreak.
- As always, never leave any fire unattended; remain with your fire until it is completely out.
- Ensure that you have the necessary equipment and personnel to control the fire.
- For smaller debris burns, have a garden hose or other water supply on hand.
The weather looking ahead
The National Weather Service (NWS) published their weather outlook for the month of December last week, and it appears that rain chances for December are leaning towards the possibility of above average rainfall. About 1.25 to 1.5 inches of rain per week is normal for this time of year.
However, extra caution is still urged when burning in the current conditions.
“Even with a return to wetter weather, drought conditions persist. Fires can still escape, especially during gusty conditions or periods of low relative humidity (30 percent or less). These fires are prone to containment problems and can burn for days in the organic layer of the soil.”
Rick Oates, State Forester
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