From staff and wire reports
Despite all of the rain that has inundated Alabama this year, unwavering high temperatures are cooking ground cover in some areas, making burning a worry.
City and Limestone County residents therefore should be careful when burning.
What was supposed to be a controlled burn Tuesday on undeveloped land in south Mobile County turned into a wildfire that had burned about 4,000 acres by Thursday. The Alabama Forestry Commission is investigating.
Gary Cole, a regional forester, said it’s so dry despite plenty of rain because a string of 100-degree days has sucked all the moisture out of the ground.
Officials said Cahaba Forestry Services had a three-day permit for a prescribed burn on the undeveloped land.
Cole said a permit was issued, despite the dry conditions, because the Forestry Commission had not issued a fire alert.
“Burning could be a risk with the temperatures so high, but we are not under a burn ban,” said Athens firefighter Tommy Lewis, at Station 1.
Unlike residents in some cities, Athens residents are allowed to burn as long as they get a permit first from the Fire Department.
But just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
A resident reported a grass fire out of control about 3:40 p.m. Friday at Sommerest and Booker Drive in Athens.
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