governor Kay Ivey issued a statewide No Burn Order on Wednesday, and also signed the state-wide Drought Emergency Declaration, often called a ‘No Burn Order’, which prohibits burning outside within Alabama.
The order came into effect on Thursday, November. 9 around 8 a.m. Central Standard Time.
“Alabama experiences very dry conditions, which significantly increases the risk of dangerous wildfires. The State Forester Rick Oates and his team are working round-the-clock to keep our forests protected and the fires in check. I congratulate them on their efforts to safeguard the residents of Alabama, our homes and wild animals,” said Governor Ivey. “This declaration is intended to avoid unnecessary burning and to reduce the risk of avoiding fires. I ask Alabamans to pay attention to the warning .”
Since the state-wide Fire Alert was issued on October. 24. Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) firefighters have fought 352 wildfires that have consumed 3,199 acres across the state.
“These restrictions on burning are the result of the continuing lack of precipitation and the high likelihood of ignition by fuel,” State Forester Rick Oates stated. “During the past month, we’ve witnessed an increase not just on the amount of fires but as well on the extent of these fires. In this long-lasting drought, the conditions are that any outdoor fire could quickly spread beyond control, and require more resources for firefighting to control and contain. Although we’re expected to see a tiny amount of rain over the next few days, it won’t be enough to reduce the danger of wildfires. .”
This Drought Emergency Declaration order will be in effect until it is cancelled by the State Forester, at which the time that conditions have improved enough to lessen the incidence and the frequency of wildfires.
To report anyone who has burned in contravention of this law, call your local law enforcement agency.
For more information on the current wildfire situation in the state, visit Alabama Forestry Commission’s website at www.forestry.alabama.gov.
The story Ivey adopts a no-burn law effective Thursday, November. 9 was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
