Local News
No-burn order reinstated
By Brittany WoodbyFire spread over 10 acres of land in Cold Springs Thursday, erupting only hours after Gov. Bob Riley signed into effect a no burn order for most of the state.
“In these conditions, a lot of things can start fires,” Cold Springs firefighter Jim Carnathan said. Carnathan was one of several firefighters from Cold Springs Fire Department and Dodge City Fire Department keeping watch over the flames off of County Road 92. “Broken mirrors and chrome from cars, coke bottles, if the sun catches these things it could cause a fire.”
However, Carnathan and Cullman County forester Steven Jones said one of the biggest causes of wildfire blazes is disobedience to the No Burn Order.
“There’s always someone who’s going to ignore [the no-burn order],” Carnathan said. “As dry as it is, it only takes someone throwing a cigarette out their window to catch a fire.”
Under the No Burn Order, it is illegal to do any outdoor burning, including bonfires and campfires. Burning leaves and trash is forbidden and Jones said no burn permits will be issued from the county forestry office.
State Forester Linda Casey said in a press release the No Burn Order was recommended by the commission after an increase in reported wildfires.
“Some of these fires have directly threatened homes and if not for the efforts of commission firefighters and volunteer fire departments we would have lost homes,” she said.
Carnathan said his department has not seen as many wildfires as he anticipated, but the ones they have responded to have been large and hard to control.
“We were out here [on County Road 92] Monday with this fire,” Carnathan said. “We stayed until about 10 p.m. and had it put out. The forestry commission came out and bulldozed a break around the bottom of the hill but then we got another call [Thursday] that it had flared up again.”
The fire had burned one acre of land Monday before being rekindled. Firefighters controlled the fire Thursday evening, preventing the fire from posing a threat to homes in the area.
Carnathan said the cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation by the county foresters.
- Local News
-
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
-
Smith Lake residents split on water plans
Residents on Smith Lake seem to be spilt which secondary water source would be best for Cullman County.
-
Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
-
Couple arrested for chemical endangerment of children
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two Berlin residents Saturday for allegedly keeping meth and syringes near two children.
-
Accreditation answer coming by early 2010
The Cullman County Board of Education took a step closer to district accreditation this week, though it will be next year until they know if their request is approved.
-
Robots fight to win
Holly Pond High School freshman Jordan Dover was excited when she had the opportunity to get involved with the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) robotics competition.
-
ServSafe Program becomes mandatory Jan. 1, 2010
The Cullman County Health Department is sponsoring a ServSafe food safety class Nov. 17-20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Grumpy’s Pizza.
-
Holly Pond trying to save students from addiction
If Karen Rowell can reach just one student, she will be satisfied.
-
Water on the brain
The City of Cullman and the Cullman County Commission have their own proposals for a second water source for the area, and neither group has shown signs of relenting to the other’s plan.
But after Monday, that could change. -
City OKs junk rules
Cullman residents with very high grass and “junked up” property could soon be fined, as the city council has now adopted a revamped nuisance ordinance.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
