Burn ban targets air quality in Tennessee Valley

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — If you’re getting outside this summer, you may be tempted to light a fire. However, the hot, dry heat can cause a spark to spread rapidly, creating a dangerous situation in mere minutes.

Alabama’s annual burn ban went into effect in May and will go through Oct. 31. Right now, four counties in the Tennessee Valley fall under that ban.

According to Huntsville Fire Marshal Dan Wilkerson, accidental wildfires aren’t the only concern. The burn ban also helps regulate air quality.

“When you burn something, it puts off a byproduct,” Wilkerson said. “Smoke, that has toxins in it. With the atmospheric conditions in the summer months, that stuff tends to linger around.”

Cooking fires are exempt from the ban, in addition to small recreational fire pits, but all other types of burning are restricted. Wilkerson says this is especially important with the current conditions in North Alabama.

“We’ve had all different types of fires,” Wilkerson said. “A train coming through town that has a malfunctioning break that’s throwing off sparks can start grass fires. People throwing out cigarettes out car windows can start grass fires, and we see a lot more of those during the summer months than we do the winter months.”

According to Huntsville Environmental Management, you are allowed to burn things after October 31st. However, that doesn’t include ground fires and you must have a permit.

Wilkerson says many people don’t even know the ordinance exists.

“I speak to a lot of people that live in the rural areas outside of Huntsville and they believe they can burn anytime,” Wilkerson said. “But if you live in Madison County, you’re restricted by the State Forestry Commission that we do not burn during these periods of time.”

12 counties across the state are affected by this burn ban. That includes Madison, Morgan, DeKalb, and Lawrence counties in North Alabama.

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