Multiple Wildfires Are Burning Across Alabama

I guess California was the state that I thought of when someone mentioned wildfires.

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Wildfires aren't just in California these days. It's a pretty serious problem in Alabama. On Tuesday, Moundville Fire Rescue assisted Stewart, Havana, Akron, Sawyerville, and Alabama Forestry with a wildfire covering about 15 acres near the Lock 8 area. All structures were protected, and the fire is under control. According to the Alabama Forestry Commission, four wildfires are burning in Alabama. Most attention has focused on the 250-acre fire at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County.

The Oak Mountain fire is now contained, with ongoing burnout operations and still some visible smoke. All 67 Alabama counties remain under a fire alert issued by the Alabama Forestry Commission. In the USA, Texas currently has the most wildfires burning, with over 2,400 acres burning. Just a few weeks ago, Alabama had almost a dozen wildfires burning. Most of the experts agree that the lack of rain is the culprit behind the wildfires in Alabama.

Alabama has two main seasons for wildfires, and we are currently in the most active of the two, October-December. In Alabama, on average, about 4,000 wildfires burn nearly 40,000 acres each year. North Alabama has steep, complex terrain and hardwood forests that can affect spread and suppression efforts.

The dry ground means we all need to be extra careful about how we treat the outdoors. Always be aware when camping or having any kind of outdoor gathering.