Alabama Wildfire Risk: Skip Outdoor Burning

0:00Alabama Forestry officials are warning residents to skip all outdoor burning right now. A dry front and stronger winds are boosting the risk of fast spreading wildfires across the state. The Alabama Forestry Commission says conditions could get dicey with low humidity and gusty winds picking up soon. Forecast show elevated fire danger starting Friday, March 27, when they'll issue a fire danger advisory. Things wrap up Saturday, March 28, with a fire alert in place. By Sunday, March 29, the threat should ease back to an advisory if the weather cooperates. These conditions make even small fires hard to control, as dry air and wind can send flames racing through fields and woods. That puts homes, forests, and lives at risk, while straining firefighting crews who need extra time and resources to respond. To curb the danger, prescribed burn permits are restricted to certified managers only on Friday, with no permits at all on Saturday. Officials plan to restart issuing them Sunday if winds calm down.

1:01Burning without a permit counts as a class B misdemeanor, so fines and prosecution are possible. If you spot a wildfire, call 80392-5679 right away. Stay safe out there, and keep an eye on updates as conditions shift over the weekend. From your city, powered by AI, this is Birmingham News Today.