HUNTSVILLE – No means no.
No open fire pits, no lighting piles of brush, no campfires. Outdoor burning is strictly prohibited in Alabama.
Even though Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide “No Burn Order” Wednesday, Huntsville Fire Chief Mac McFarlen provided double coverage Thursday in an effort to halt the rising numbers of fires in the wake of drought conditions that he said has the city at a stage where, “Everything is ready to burn. We’re sitting on a powder keg.”
“The fire chief can actually put in a no burn,” McFarlen said during a news conference, “and I’m declaring that right now. There is a slight chance of rain in forecasts but not enough to ease dry conditions. It seems redundant to what the governor has already done, but in the City of Huntsville, this a no burn.
“One thing a lot of people sometimes don’t understand is just because we get a little rain does not mean that the potential (for wildfires) breaks down.”
Robert Maddox of the Alabama Forestry Commission represents Madison, Morgan, Limestone and Lawrence counties. He echoed the fire chief’s concern about residents seeing wet ground and deciding it is OK to light a fire.
“The past 30 days, we had approximately 760 acres burned,” Maddox said of his four-county territory. “Not all of it is controlled at this time. A lot of it is becoming contained as fires break out around it and we’re allowing it to burn out. Water suppression is not gonna work for a woods fire right now.
“The ground is dry, approximately 7 1/2 inches down. Chief said this is a little bit – what we get is gonna get absorbed by that ground very quickly and we’ll be right back to (fighting fires) early next week. The rain over the weekend is gonna give firefighters a chance to do laundry, prepare equipment, get some rest and get ready to go again.”
The statewide order also covers all Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lands including Alabama’s State Parks, state public hunting lands and Forever Wild Land Trust tracts. However, gas cook stoves will still be allowed in the state park campgrounds and appropriate day use areas.
“We are taking this burn ban very seriously and encourage everyone who visits an Alabama State Park, public hunting area or Forever Wild tract to do so as well,” said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “Please follow the statewide No Burn Order and enjoy your outdoor recreation responsibly during these extremely dry conditions.”
Alabama’s gun deer season opens for most of the state Nov. 18. To lower the risk of accidentally starting a wildfire this hunting season, hunters are also encouraged to practice these additional fire prevention tips:
- Avoid parking in tall dry grass. Vehicle exhaust pipes can potentially ignite the grass.
- Be mindful of any sparks generated when discharging a firearm.
- Do not discard cigarette butts from a vehicle window or near any potential fire source.
- When hauling a trailer avoid dragging chains. Sparks generated against the pavement can ignite grass along the roadway.
- If possible, carry a fire extinguisher in your vehicle.
Future fires would stress firefighting manpower. Both McFarlen and Maddox ask the public to “help us” by observing the order, which is officially a Drought Emergency Declaration. They also ask citizens to not just report fires at 256-722-7120, but also anyone they see preparing to start burning.
Burning right now is illegal, and anyone caught lighting fires can be criminally charged and face liability.
“If you see someone burning, call it in,” McFarlen said. “If you see someone setting it, get a description.”
Since the statewide Fire Alert was issued Oct. 24, forestry commission firefighters have responded to 352 wildfires that have burned 3,199 acres across the state.
“The Fire Alert wasn’t sufficient,” McFarlen said. “Folks were still burning.”
Rake leaves, the fire chief advises, or blow them into wooded areas. Collect brush. But don’t burn any of it. It’s not just illegal, it’s dangerous.
“Just don’t light,” McFarlen said. “It’s that simple.”
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