With Dry Conditions, Gusty Winds, Dropping Relative Humidity Wildfires Are Possible

With forecasts calling for elevated wind speeds across the state, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) strongly discourages any outdoor burning until conditions improve. With a significant uptick in wildfire ignitions over the last week – including more than 60 on Wednesday – the agency also points to dropping relative humidity in the afternoon as especially concerning.

In addition to already dry conditions, gusty winds and low relative humidities combine to create dangerous wildfire behavior. The combination of these conditions creates a greater-than-average potential for outdoor fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer – and more of the agency’s firefighting resources – to contain and ultimately control. Fast-moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.

Permits for outdoor burning will not be issued by the agency on Friday, February 28. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor.

In the last seven days, 130 wildfires have burned approximately 3,000 acres of forestland across the state. This includes two large wildfires in Calhoun County (a 550-acre and a 207-acre with two structures lost), one for 253 acres in Lowndes County, and three others over 100 acres in Perry, Pike, and St. Clair counties.

The Alabama Forestry Commission is the state agency committed to protecting Alabama’s invaluable forest assets as well as its citizens. To report a wildfire, call (800) 392-5679. For more information on the current wildfire situation in the state or any other forestry-related issues, contact your local AFC office or visit the agency website at www.forestry.alabama.gov.