Drought conditions in Alabama lead to fire danger warning for 22 counties

The Alabama Forestry Commission issued a fire hazard advisory for 22 people on Thursday as parts of the state remain closed. Drought conditions are expected to continue to occur.

The agency said abnormally hot and dry conditions toward November “will result in increased wildfire potential and resistance to control, particularly in forests affected by drought and insect mortality.”

The advisory, which is effective immediately “until significant rainfall is received,” covers the following 22 Alabama counties: Baldwin; Steward; Choctaw; Clark; Crenshaw; Conecuh; Covington; Dallas; Escambia; Greene; Hale; Lamar; Limestone; Lowndes; Jackson; Madison; Marengo; Mobile; Monroe; Pickens; Summer; and Washington.

“Dead pine trees from last year’s drought and the resulting southern pine beetle outbreak this year are contributing to the intensity of the fire, complicating containment efforts and presenting additional hazards for firefighters,” AFC Fire Analyst Ethan Barrett said in a statement. “This weather pattern with above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation is forecast for the next few weeks, allowing for a possible increase in bushfires before drought impacts worsen and rains return more frequently.”

US Drought Monitor report The report released Thursday showed nearly the entire state is in some stage of drought.

The majority of the state is in the D1 category, or moderately dry, while the next largest area is in the D0 classification, or abnormally dry.

Parts of northern Alabama are in the D2, or severe, drought category, while parts of Perry, Winston, Marengo and Dallas counties are also in severe drought.

Dry conditions have fueled wildfires across the state for the past several weeks, according to the forestry commission.

Over the past 30 days, 201 wildfires have burned approximately 2,738 acres in Alabama. About half of these fires and this area occurred in the last week; these included a 500-acre wildfire in Calhoun County, a fire that consumed 220 acres in Green County, a 105-acre fire in Mobile County and a 100-acre fire in Calhoun County. .

Although the AFC has not issued a burn restriction, the agency said “open-air burning is strongly discouraged until conditions improve.”