Alabama blanketed with smoke because of dramatic increase in wildfires

Did you see and smell smoke hovering at sunset last night, especially in Birmingham? Over the past week, gusty winds and low relative humidity has caused a huge uptick in the number of wildfires across Alabama.

According to the Alabama Forestry Commission, 168 wildfires burned 6,365 acres of Alabama forestland over the last four days.

Fire alert issued in 8 counties

As a result, theCommission has issued a “fire alert” for eight counties in Southwest Alabama — Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington. 

This means permits for outdoor burning in these specified counties will be restricted to Certified Prescribed Burn Managers only. Anyone who burns a field, grassland or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor. 

“Windy conditions are expected today through Thursday with gusts approaching 30 mph, making fires very difficult to control. Even with any rain received in the next few days, windy conditions will still pose a threat. Fast moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests, but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.”

~ Benji Elmore Alabama Forestry Commission Southwest Regional Forester 

Where are the wildfires?

Half of the state’s wildfires are occurring in the Southwest end of the state. Perhaps more concerning is the number of large wildfires. 

Here is a list released by the Commission.

• 1,210-acre wildfire in Baldwin County, 
• 300 acres in Washington County, 
• 275-acre fire in Escambia County
• 240 acres in Mobile County 
• 400-acre fire in Sumter County
• 200 acres in Chambers County
• 165 acres in Randolph County
• Two fires over 100 acres in both Butler and Russell counties, as well as a 100-acre fire in Winston County

No word on air quality warnings

Presently, the Alabama Public Health or Alabama Department of Environmental Management have not issued any air quality warnings. But if you can see and smell the smoke and want to make sure you are safe from breathing in smoke and soot — visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

Follow this color-coded graph:

If you need to report a wildfire, call the Alabama Forestry Commission at: (800) 392-5679.