The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has issued a Fire Danger Advisory for Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clark, Crenshaw, Conecuh, Covington, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Limestone, Lowndes, Jackson, Madison, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Pickens, Sumter, and Washington counties in the west-central and southwest areas effective immediately until significant rainfall is received. Abnormally warm and dry conditions leading into November will result in increasing wildfire potential and resistance to control, particularly in forests impacted by drought and beetle kill.

     “Dead pine trees from last year’s drought and the resulting southern pine beetle outbreak this year are contributing to fire intensity, which challenges containment efforts and presents additional hazards to firefighters,” said AFC Fire Analyst Ethan Barrett. “This weather pattern featuring above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation is predicted for the next few weeks, allowing for worsening drought impacts and a likely increase in wildfires until more frequent rain returns.”

     Drought development has led to a steady rise in wildfire activity across Alabama in the last few weeks. Both number and size of wildfires have increased. In the past 30 days, 201 wildfires have burned approximately 2,738 acres. About half of those fires and more than half of that acreage occurred in the last seven days, including a 500-acre fire in Calhoun County, one for 220 acres in Greene County, a 105-acre fire in Mobile County, and another 100-acre fire in Calhoun County.

     Although the AFC is not currently issuing a burn restriction, the agency strongly discourages any outdoor burning until conditions improve.