Alabama Forestry Commission shakes record for forest fire reactions in one day

Montgomery, Ala. (WSFA) – Violent winds in combination with low humidity On Tuesday are to blame for a record number of Wildfire in one day for the Alabama Forestry Commission.

“Yesterday was a perfect storm for forest fires. We reacted to at least 181 forest fires nationwide,” said Balsie Butler from the Alabama Forestry Commission. “Our earlier record for a one -day answer was 106 in 2016.”

The commission was all hands on deck and stressed their resources so much that they were forced to change the protocol.

“Our shipping center was completely overwhelmed with phone calls, so we had to set up a telephone bank and even the State Forester received calls to forest fires,” said Butler. “We have no more employees in several regions, some fires were in the queue until this staff was buttoned a fire and then simply went to another fire.”

Fortunately, the heavy rain enabled the Commission overnight to increase its prohibition of combustion permits, but we are not yet out of the forest.

“Even after this rain, if you do not have to burn, we please move this more moisture, more precipitation on Saturday. So if we get this precipitation on Saturday, we will feel a little more comfortable,” said Butler.

The fires on Tuesday burned an estimated 1,700 tomorrow in Alabama.

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