Fire Danger Advisory issued for 22 Alabama counties

The Alabama Forestry Commission has issued a Fire Danger Advisory for 22 Alabama counties due to warm and dry conditions.

The counties under the advisory are: Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Crenshaw, Conecuh, Covington, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Limestone, Lowndes, Jackson, Madison, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Pickens, Sumter and Washington.

The Alabama Forestry Commission says warm and dry conditions leading into November raises the risk of wildfires, especially in those areas affected by drought and pine beetles.

“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,” AFC Fire Analyst Ethan Barrett said. “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.” 

In the past 30 days, 201 wildfires have burned more than 2,700 acres across the state. About half of that happened in the past seven days.

While the AFC isn’t issuing a burn restriction at this time, it discourages any outdoor burning until conditions improve.