Wildfires Continue in Central Alabama: Heavy smoke from a wildfire shrouded a stretch of Daniel Payne Drive near Acipco Industrial Drive in Birmingham on Thursday afternoon. This brush fire is one of several wildfires across central Alabama in recent weeks due to persistent drought conditions.
Around 4:30 p.m., fire breaks were cut in around Daniel Payne Drive with assistance from the Alabama Forestry Commission to backburn to the origin of the fire.
Birmingham Fire reported no impact on buildings or injuries. While the cause remains unknown, it could have been triggered by various factors such as a vehicle dragging a chain, sparks from something on the road, or even a discarded cigarette butt.
Cahaba Valley Fire and Rescue, though not responding to fires themselves, noted that three neighboring departments were battling wildfires on the same afternoon.
Due to the lack of rain and low humidity in the area, conditions are ripe for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.
“With the dry conditions we have now and wind conditions, it can go from a small, what could seem like a small debris trash fire up to a couple of acres in just a matter of 15 minutes or so,” cautioned Cahaba Valley Fire and Rescue Captain Russ Bradley.
Firefighters emphasize the importance of caution during this fire alert, urging people to be extra careful when disposing of cigarette butts or using fire pits.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Is Alabama still under a no burn order?
With immediate effect, all burn restrictions in the state of Alabama have been lifted. The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) will resume issuing burn permits as per usual. This applies to 11 counties in the northeast of Alabama that were previously under a ‘No Burn’ directive issued by the Governor.
How many wildfires happened in 2023 so far?
As of December 31, 2023, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported 7,127 fires, which scorched 324,917 acres (131,489 hectares). This falls short of the state’s five-year average of 1,722,059 acres (696,893 ha) burned during the same timeframe.
What states are having wildfires right now?
The U.S. is currently dealing with multiple wildfires. In Oklahoma, there are 8 fires burning across 23 acres. Arizona is facing 1 fire covering 11 acres, while Mississippi is battling 1 fire on 10 acres. Arkansas also has 1 fire burning through 3 acres.
Are there more wildfires now?
Various research has shown that climate change is causing wildfires to last longer, occur more frequently, and cover more ground. The increase in wildfire season length is attributed to warmer springs, extended summer dry periods, and drier soil and vegetation in many regions.