No burning, please!

MOLLIE S. WATERS/THE GREENVILLE STANDARD

Due to the lack of rain and drought-like conditions, all of Alabama 67 counties have been placed under a ‘No Burn’ order as of 3 p.m. Nov. 7. All outdoor burning is prohibited.

According to an earlier release from the Alabama Forestry Commission website, Governor Robert Bentley initially signed a “no burn order” for 46 of Alabama’s 67 counties on Oct. 12.

“Although 46 counties in North Alabama were already under the No Burn Order, it was necessary to add the remaining 21 counties in the southern part of the state because of alarming wildfire activity and continued lack of rainfall,” Governor Bentley said. “The expansion of this No Burn Order is critical to keeping our citizens safe from the threat of wildfires and reducing the chance of avoidable fires.”

The Alabama Forestry Commission has reported over 1,421 wildfires covering over 15,000 acres since the first of October.

The City of Greenville’s Interim Fire Chief Tim Warrick urges residents not to burn at this time.

“We do not encourage burning right now,” said Warrick. “It is too dry, and there are days when it is too windy to burn.”

Warrick said no grass fires have been reported inside the city limits of Greenville, but there have been a few fires reported in the county. “We’ve been lucky so far,” said Warrick.

Under the Drought Emergency ‘No Burn’ Order, Section 9-13-141 of the Code of Alabama states that 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. Specifically, the regulation prohibits any prescribed burns, any campfire or bonfire, any trash or debris fires, or any other open burning.

If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn order is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Visit www.forestry.alabama.gov for more information.