By Staff
A fire alert already in place throughout much of the state was expanded Monday to include Morgan County.
Morgan is one of 20 counties added to the list. The fire alert will remain in place until lifted by the state forester.
As approved by law, burning permits for the designated counties will be issued only at the discretion of the state forester as long as the fire alert is in effect.
The addition of the new counties brings the total under the fire alert to 43 counties.
To date for the month of March, there have been 1,041 fires with 20,523 acres burned. This is the second fire alert extension issued since March 21.
If dry weather conditions continue, other counties may be added to this alert. There are currently no counties under a drought emergency.
Anyone wishing to obtain a burn permit will have to contact the Alabama Forestry Commission Office. Local County and City laws may also restrict outdoor burning.