“Local volunteer fire departments are great partners to the Alabama Forestry Commission during times of high fire occurrence, so we
want to thank all the VFDs that
have worked alongside our agency’s wildland firefighters over the past few
weeks,” said John Goff, AFC
Forest Protection Division Director. Since the first of October, the AFC has responded to 247 wildfires
burning approximately 2,283 acres across Alabama. In September, the agency
recorded 472 wildfires that scorched over 6,000 acres.
The AFC urges anyone
conducting outdoor burning to follow safety
recommendations such as not leaving a fire unattended until it is out, having
the necessary equipment and personnel to control the fire, and having a garden
hose or other water supply on hand for smaller debris burns. Any fire more than
a quarter-acre in size or within 25 feet of a forested area requires a permit
from the AFC. Burn permits may be
obtained by calling (800) 392-5679. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or
woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a
Class B misdemeanor. To report a wildfire, call (800) 392-5679.
The Alabama Forestry
Commission is the state agency charged with protecting Alabama’s invaluable
forest assets as well as its citizens. To learn more about the services
provided by the agency, contact any AFC county
office or visit the agency website at www.forestry.alabama.gov