Fire Alert Issued for 46 Counties in Alabama

Forestry officials are banning outside burning across most of Alabama because of the threat of wildfires. Coleen Vansant of the Alabama Forestry Commission says the fire alert took effect Monday and covers 46 of the state's 67 counties. The fire alert means no outside fires are allowed in the region. Officials hope it will stem the spread of wildfires in drought-plagued areas of the state. Vansant says the ban will remain in effect until Alabama receives the substantial amount of rain that will be needed to reduce the threat of wildfires. The Forestry Commission reports that wildfires have burned more than 3,300 hundred acres in Alabama in the past week and more than 7,200 acres in the past month.