Firefighters put out potential wild fire; Gov. Ivey issues a burn ban for the entire state
Century and Flomaton firemen fight blaze
Flomaton and Century fire departments were dispatched 4813 Old Atmore Road shortly before noon Saturday after the burning of a large vegetative and limb debris pile began to spread, bringing warnings from Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton and the Alabama Forestry Commission not to burn in these extreme dry conditions.
Stanton said firemen first attacked the spreading fire and then extinguished the large brush pile.
"It was close to spreading to a nearby tree line and then there's no telling how many acres would have burned or how many houses would have been engulfed in flames," Stanton said.
On Oct. 24, the Alabama Forestry Commission re-issued a fire alert for all 67 counties. In most of the northern counties there is a no burn order and no burning permits will be issued. South Alabama remains under a fire alert and certified prescribed burn managers can apply for a 1-day permit only.
"Forestry is telling us to ask people not to burn," Stanton said. "In the past 21 days we haven't had enough rain to amount to anything and everything is dry to the bone."
However, yesterday (Wednesday) Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide burn ban, meaning no burning in all 67 counties.
Stanton said the forecast calls for some rain Friday but he expects it not to make a difference in the dry conditions.
"People need to use common sense," said Thomas Davis with the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Stanton noted it doesn't take but a second for a trash fire to begin spreading with the dry conditions and low humidity.
"We're not under a no burn order but I'm telling everybody not to burn," Stanton said. "You put everybody in danger when you start burning debris right now."
