Residents across Mobile and Baldwin counties clearing storm debris from Hurricane Sally are being reminded that outdoor burning remains illegal under a statewide seasonal burn ban that runs through the end of October, even as yards and roadsides fill with downed limbs, fencing and other wreckage.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management issues the ban annually for twelve counties across the state, including Mobile and Baldwin, covering the period from May 1 through October 31 each year. The restriction is meant to reduce the risk of wildfires during the hottest, driest stretch of the year, but this year it collides with an unusually heavy load of storm debris left behind by Hurricane Sally.
In Mobile County, fire officials say the bigger issue is not just debris fires slipping out of control, but the volume of 911 calls coming in from residents who spot smoke or flames in their neighborhoods. Steven Millhouse with Mobile Fire Rescue said neighbors who notice someone burning debris have other options before dialing emergency dispatch.
“You can just ask your neighbors directly, or if it becomes a major issue you can give a call to our Bureau of Fire Prevention or our Community Risk Reduction Division and we will be happy to ask them to put it out,” Millhouse said. He emphasized that 911 should be reserved for genuine emergencies, so that dispatchers and crews can respond quickly to calls that truly require it.
In Baldwin County, fire officials are stressing that no outdoor burning should be taking place at all right now, and that the danger goes well beyond the burn ban itself. Barnwell Fire Chief Roy Glenn said storm-damaged infrastructure has made the area far more vulnerable if a fire were to spread.
“We still got power lines down, poles down, tree debris,” Glenn said. “We can’t access a lot of the area if the fire gets out, or if you have a need, it is harder for us to get in. If the fire does get out of control, we will be in the same situation that out West is right now with the wildfires.”
Fire officials note that even debris that seems damp from recent rain can dry out quickly once it starts burning, allowing a fire to keep spreading rather than burn itself out. That risk is compounded by downed power lines and blocked roads left behind by the hurricane, which can slow emergency crews trying to reach a fire before it spreads to a home or a wooded area.
There is also a public health dimension to the warning. With so many households still without power in the days after the storm, many residents have been opening windows to let in cooler air rather than run air conditioning. Officials warn that if someone nearby is burning debris, smoke can drift into homes through those open windows, creating a potentially serious health hazard for anyone with asthma, COPD or other preexisting respiratory or medical conditions.
Residents who want to legally dispose of storm debris are encouraged to check with their local municipality or county solid waste department about curbside debris collection schedules and drop-off sites rather than burning it in yards or empty lots. Anyone who spots a fire that appears out of control, or debris burning near power lines, downed trees or structures, should contact their local fire department.
The burn ban will remain in effect across both counties through October 31, and officials say it will be strictly enforced given the added fire risk created by the hurricane’s debris field.