Alabama Forestry Commission urging people to be careful while burning

OTHERWISE CONFINED. THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION STRONGLY DISCOURAGING OUTDOOR BURNING UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. YEAH, THIS COMES AS OFFICIALS HAVE SEEN A MASSIVE SPIKE IN FIRE CALLS JUST THIS WEEK. �� 13 JARVIS ROBERTSON LIVE IN LOCAL IN BIRMINGHAM. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE FORESTRY COMMISSION ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW BEFORE STARTING ANY BURNS. JARVIS. SO IT’S BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS SINCE WE’VE HAD ANY MEASURABLE OR SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL, SO THINGS ARE PRETTY DRY OUTSIDE. JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, WE’VE REPORTED ON SEVERAL FIRES ACROSS ALABAMA. SO I REACHED OUT TO THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY ADVICE FOR THE PUBLIC. WE’VE HAD 140 FIRES IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS. BELK BUTLER WITH THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION SAYS THEY’VE SEEN A 600% INCREASE IN THEIR RESPONSE TO FIRES ACROSS THE STATE JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, COMPARED TO THE FIRST 20 DAYS OF FEBRUARY, WHEN THEY RESPONDED TO ONLY 20, JUST RIGHT UNDER HALF OF THE FIRES. WE HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN PERMITTED. BURNS, WHO HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THE BURNER. HERE’S DRONE VIDEO FROM THE WILDFIRE THAT SCORCHED PARTS OF CALHOUN COUNTY EARLIER THIS WEEK. THIS FIRE PROMPTED SEVERAL AGENCIES TO RESPOND. SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. IT GOES FROM BOREDOM TO PANIC REAL QUICK. SO WE STARTED MAKING SURE WE SENT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES THAT WE HAD, AND WE’VE CALLED EXTRA PEOPLE IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE OF THE ADVISORY. BUTLER SAYS THEY ARE NOT ISSUING BURN PERMITS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE’RE ONLY ISSUING PERMITS TO PROFESSIONAL, TO OUR PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE. THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CERTIFIED PRESCRIBED BURN MANAGERS, ACCORDING TO AFC’S WEBSITE, THERE ARE SEVEN ACTIVE FIRES, 89 CONTAINED FIRES AND 12 CONTROLLED FIRES. JUST THIS WEEK, OVER 3400 ACRES HAVE BEEN SCORCHED. BUTLER SAYS CONDITIONS JUST AREN’T FAVORABLE FOR BURNS. UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE DOING. WE STILL HAVEN’T RECEIVED ENOUGH RAIN TO COME OUT OF THOSE DROUGHT CONDITIONS. SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BURNING, THEY DO ASK THAT YOU BE VERY MINDFUL AND PAY ATTENTION TO THAT BURN SO IT DOESN’T GET AWAY FROM YOU. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION HAS NOT ISSUED

Fires have been popping up all across Alabama, scorching thousands of acres. It's been two weeks since Alabama had any significant rainfall, leaving conditions dry. Because of that, a wildfire advisory in in effect.This week, �� 13 has reported wildfire activity across the state. Balsie Butler from the Alabama Forestry Commission says from Feb. 1-20, they only responded to 20 calls. However, in this last week of the month they've responded to 140 fires. "Just right under half of the fires have been permitted burns that have gotten away from the burner," Butler said.Since conditions are not as favorable for burns, permits will not be issued to the general public right now."We’re only issuing burn permits to our professionals in the state, those people who are certified prescribed burn managers," he said.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Fires have been popping up all across Alabama, scorching thousands of acres.

It's been two weeks since Alabama had any significant rainfall, leaving conditions dry. Because of that, a wildfire advisory in in effect.

This week, �� 13 has reported wildfire activity across the state.

Balsie Butler from the Alabama Forestry Commission says from Feb. 1-20, they only responded to 20 calls. However, in this last week of the month they've responded to 140 fires.

"Just right under half of the fires have been permitted burns that have gotten away from the burner," Butler said.

Since conditions are not as favorable for burns, permits will not be issued to the general public right now.

"We’re only issuing burn permits to our professionals in the state, those people who are certified prescribed burn managers," he said.

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Alabama Forestry Commission urging people to be careful while burning

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