Burn ban downgraded to local fire alert

By Staff
Jason Canon, Franklin County Times
The no burn order issued Aug. 16 for 59 Alabama counties has been downgraded to a fire alert.
State Forestry Commission officials said Friday the rain around the state in the past few days has cut the threat of wildfires. However, all 67 counties remain under a fire alert.
This means burns are restricted based on local conditions., which means city and county residents must still contact their local municipality or fire departm,ent before being granted permission to burn.
Any fire of more than a quarter-acre requires a permit from the commission.
The commission added lifting of the Drought Emergency does not remove the open burn restriction issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for 12 Alabama counties. The restriction, which is issued every year from May through October, covers: Baldwin, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Russell, Shelby and Talladega.