Fire Threat Continues

By Glenn Collins
Friday, June 10, 2011 | 7:06 AM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=788

Haleyville firefighters extinguished a vacant lot fire Wednesday, a sign that dry conditions with so much tornado debris continues to present a fire threat.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley issued a formal Declaration of Emergency Drought Condition on Tuesday, June 7 at the request of State Forester Linda Casey. All 67 counties in the state of Alabama were placed under the Drought Emergency, often referred to as a “No Burn Order,” which prohibits all outdoor burning.

Under the Drought Emergency rule, it is illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes; to build a campfire or bonfire; or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass, or woods fire. If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn Order is a fine of up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail. This No Burn Order will remain in effect until conditions change sufficiently to reduce the occurrence and frequency of wildfires. The limited amount of rain that fell in scattered areas of the state this week is not expected to relieve the situation significantly.