A wildfire is burning in the Williams Creek area of the Talladega National Forest’s Oakmulgee Ranger District in Perry County, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The agency said the Williams Creek Fire is burning in an area previously impacted by tornado damage, where heavy dead and downed timber is fueling the blaze. The fire had burned approximately 120 acres as of the most recent update, though further details on containment were not immediately available.
The local fire comes as State Forester Rick Oates issued a statewide Fire Alert, effective immediately, due to worsening drought conditions and low relative humidity across Alabama.
Over the past weekend, 50 wildfires burned more than 2,300 acres of forestland statewide, including:
- 500 acres in Mobile County
- 412 acres in Coosa County
- 382 acres in Choctaw County
- 260 acres in Washington County
- 105 acres in Escambia County
In the last 30 days, a total of 387 wildfires have burned approximately 15,850 acres across the state.
“With no measurable rain in sight, the continued extremely dry conditions create dangerous wildfire behavior,” Oates said. “These conditions create the potential for fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer and more of the agency’s firefighting resources to contain.”
He added, “Fast-moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.”
The Fire Alert will remain in effect until rescinded, at least through Monday, April 20, when conditions will be reevaluated.
Permits for outdoor burning are now restricted to Certified Prescribed Burn Managers only. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a permit may face prosecution for a Class B misdemeanor.
Marion Fire & Rescue has also maintained a local outdoor burn ban since March 26, covering all open burning, including brush and leaf piles. The department noted that the only authority to issue burn permits within Marion city limits rests with an officer of Marion Fire & Rescue.
To report a wildfire, call (800) 392-5679. More information is available through local Alabama Forestry Commission offices or online at www.forestry.alabama.gov.
