Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire is a safe way to restore a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and resiliency, and reduce wildfire risk.
Over the past 5 years in Alabama…
4.8M+
Acres Burned
62K+
Permits Issued
950+
Prescribed Burn Managers Certified
Prescribed fire refers to the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specified weather conditions that help restore health and resiliency to fire-dependent ecosystems and landscapes.
Prescribed fire reintroduces and restores the natural process and the beneficial effects of periodic fire into an ecosystem by yielding the kinds of vegetation and resilient landscapes we want, and reducing the hazard of catastrophic wildfire caused by excessive fuel buildup.
That’s why we call them #GoodFires!
Benefits of Prescribed Fire
Hazardous Fuels Reduction
Prescribed fire is one of many fuel reduction treatments used to remove or reduce dense vegetation that is fuel for wildfires.
Dense vegetation can create intense fires that burn quickly and endanger nearby communities.
By safely reducing excessive amounts of brush, shrubs, and trees, encouraging the new growth of native vegetation, and maintaining the many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire, prescribed burning helps reduce the catastrophic damage of wildfire on our lands and surrounding communities. Wildfires that burn in areas where fuels have been reduced by prescribed fire cause less damage and are much easier to control.
Community Safety
The wildland urban interface is an area where we build homes and communities adjacent to wildland or agricultural vegetation and it is within this area that wildfire poses the greatest risk.
Prescribed fire, when utilized judiciously can have the biggest impact on protecting our communities and our ecosystems from catastrophic wildfire. Just like landowners are responsible for managing their lands, homeowners have a responsibility to manage their property and homes in a way that is fire-resistant and compatible with the fire-dependent ecosystems in which we reside.
Firefighter Safety
Prescribed fire can make wildfires less severe and safer to respond to.
Prescribed fire helps protect firefighters. Land that has been treated with prescribed fire slows future wildfire growth, thereby assisting wildland firefighters as they work to protect communities, property and infrastructure.
Economic Gain
Forest management practices can provide multiple opportunities for economic gain.
Promotes Regeneration of Timber
Prescribed fire is useful when regenerating southern pines. On open sites, prescribed fire can expose mineral soil and control competing vegetation until seedlings become established.
Improves Access and Safety for Timber Operations
Burning underbrush prior to the sale of forest products improves the efficiency of cruising, timber marking, and harvesting. Removing accumulated material before harvesting also provides greater safety for timber markers and loggers due to better visibility and less underbrush.
The reduced amount of fuel helps offset the greater risk of wildfire during harvesting. The improved visibility and accessibility often increase the stumpage value of the products.
Replenished Landscapes
Fire is important for grazing. It replenishes rangelands, improves grazing vegetation and reduces the need to fertilize.
Prescribed fire helps produce palatable and nutritious forage and reduces noxious weed competition for domestic livestock in timbered and open range.
The immediate plant response to prescribed fire is an increase in palatability, quality, quantity and availability of grasses. Dead material, low in nutrient values, is removed while new growth, high in protein, phosphorous and calcium becomes readily available in the spring.
Recreation & Beauty
Prescribed fire improves aesthetic value and access to nature.
Prescribed fire enhances aesthetic values by increasing occurrence and visibility of flowering annuals and biennials. In a forest, it also reduces understory buildup, making tree stands more transparent and enhances the scenic qualities of the forest. Prescribed fire also maintains open spaces for vistas.
Prescribed fire can create open areas, trails and road access that can provide recreation and enhance natural beauty. Well-managed forests increase opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing and bird watching. Observing and connecting with nature can increase mental, physical and emotional well-being. Studies show that activities such as a walk in the woods can provide a boost to the immune system that lasts two or three days.
Step One of Conducting a Prescribed Fire:
OBTAIN A PERMIT
Prescribed fire is a complex management tool and should be used only with the utmost care under controlled conditions.
Alabama law (9-13-11) requires that you obtain a permit from the AFC to conduct a prescribed burn for silvicultural and agricultural purposes.
The permit means the burner
- has the manpower and equipment to control the fire
- agrees to stay with the fire until it is out
If the proposed fire is less than a quarter of an acre, a permit is not necessary. Even though the burner has a permit, he/she is still responsible for any damage to others that may be caused by the fire or smoke.
The permit is issued through our dispatch center by calling (800) 392-5679. Certified Prescribed Burn Managers can obtain a permit online here.
When applying for a permit, the burner needs to provide the
- Latitude/Longitude coordinates of the burn location
- Approximate size of the burn
- What is to be burned, i.e. grassland/fields/forests
- General purpose of the burn, such as fire hazard reduction, regeneration, wildlife benefit, etc.
The burn must not contain material such as vehicle tires, construction material, household garbage or other material prohibited by ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental management).
The permit may be canceled by the AFC for failure to comply with the terms of the permit, weather condition change which cause erratic and dangerous fire behavior, or if the burn produces smoke which becomes a hazard to others or contributes to a degradation of air quality.
Check with your local authorities for any additional burning restrictions.
“Conducting a hazardous fuel reduction burn aims to minimize the risk of human injury and property damage before catastrophic wildfires can occur. Executing these burn requires thorough planning, resources, and collaboration.“
– Rickey Fields –
Prescribed Fire Coordinator
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager
Prescribed Burn Manager Certification
The law states that in order for a prescribed burn to have liability protection; it must be supervised by a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager.
1975 Code of Alabama, Section 9.13.270, and Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 390.X.6, state that the requirements for obtaining certification as a Prescribed Burn Manager will consist of the following: “Completion of a training course approved by the Alabama Forestry Commission.”
Certification Process
A training program has been established to meet the requirements of the Prescribed Burning Act. The Burn Manager Certification Course, covering 32 hours, will include discussion of fire behavior, burning methods, safety, planning, smoke screening and Alabama fire laws. Courses are offered annually across the state. For a list of training sessions, see the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Courses section below. It is also suggested that participants complete a Fire Behavior Course, which can be done as a self-study class, prior to the Burn Manager Training Course.
Training equivalent to the courses sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Commission will be accepted as meeting the requirement for certification. Chapter 390.X.6.02 of the Alabama Administrative Code states that the determination as to the acceptability of any particular training will be made by the Alabama Forestry Commission or its designee.
To receive initial certification, burners should submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Certification along with proof of training and a non-refundable $50 certification fee. Please send applications to:
- Alabama Forestry Commission
- Attn: Prescribed Burn Certification Program
- Post Office Box 302550
- Montgomery, AL 36130-2550
Please note: Burners who paid $150 to attend an AFC-sponsored certification course and are applying following successful completion of that course do not have to pay an additional $50 application fee when submitting the application for certification. The completed application and proof of training are all that is required for those burners.
The Prescribed Burn Manager Certification will have a 5 year term, requiring renewal every five years. Each Certified Prescribed Burn Manager must, over that five year period, earn six (6) hours of continuing education directly pertaining to prescribed burning. For information on recertification see the section “Prescribed Burn Manager Recertification” section below.
For additional information contact Marti Davis at (334)240-9332
Prescribed Burn Manager Re-Certification
Certification is for a five-year period, requiring renewal every five years. In order for a certification to be renewed, six hours of continuing education directly pertaining to prescribed burning must be earned prior to the certification expiration date. Burners who do not meet this standard will have their certification expire. Courses and topics that would meet the continuing education requirements would include but are not limited to: fire behavior courses, fire behavior calculations courses, ignition operations courses, fuels and fuels modeling courses, fire effects courses, smoke management courses, and any course offered or sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Commission specifically for the purpose of providing continuing education for prescribed burning.
For a list of AFC-sponsored training workshops, see the “Certified Prescribed Burn Courses” section below.
To receive Certification Renewal, Burn Managers should submit an Application for Prescribed Burn Manager Re-Certification, along with proof of continuing education accomplishment and a non-refundable $50 certification fee prior to the expiration date of their certification. Please send applications to:
- Alabama Forestry Commission
- Attn: Prescribed Burn Certification Program
- Post Office Box 302550
- Montgomery, AL 36130-2550
Please note: Burners who paid $100 to attend an AFC-sponsored recertification workshop and are applying following successful completion of that training do not have to pay an additional $50 application fee when submitting the application for recertification. The completed application and proof of training are all that is required for those burners.
For more information contact Marti Davis at (334)240-9332
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Courses
Who should take the CPBM Certification COURSE? Any forest land owner, forester, wildlife biologist, consultant, contractor, or agency personnel who is interested in the use of prescribed wildland fire as a management tool and who is seeking certification should attend. Out of state participants are welcome.
Who should take the CPBM Re-Certification WORKSHOP? Any current Alabama Certified Prescribed Burn Manager who needs the required 6 CEUs every 5 years for re-certification should take the workshop. Please make sure that you are a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager in good standing before you sign up for the recertification workshop. You can check your expiration date by logging into the online burn permit website and checking My Info.
Positive Effects of Prescribed Fire on Forest Health
There are many factors related to prescribed fires that have an impact on all aspects of forest health.
Soil Rejuvenation
There are many factors that that determine whether fire will have beneficial or adverse effects on soil. Frequency, duration and intensity of the fire are just a few.
Fire is a natural disturbance, but it also rejuvenates the habitat. It returns the nutrients that are tied up in the vegetation, it returns that material to the soil, and you get new regrowth and lush vegetation that’s beneficial for wildlife and keeps the habitat healthy over the long term. The nutrients released in fires are almost all held and used at the site by plant roots, micro-organisms and the soil.
Too hot a fire can cause excessive nutrient loss when all fuels are consumed and when soil organisms and plant roots are killed.
Water Quality & Quantity
Prescribed burning increases the quantity of water by removing thick shrubs and overgrown vegetation. With fewer plants absorbing water, streams are fuller, benefiting other plants and animals.
Prescribed burning also helps maintain clean drinking water and reduces the amount of moisture that evaporates from plants into the air. This increases the quantity and improves the quality of water soaking into the ground, replenishing aquifers.
Historically, even wetland areas burned in times of dry weather or when high winds carried flames over wet ground and the water surface. Today, prescribed fires in wetlands are an important tool for controlling weeds.
Improved Biodiversity
Prescribed burning increases vegetative diversity and attracts a wider variety of birds and animals. It also helps perpetuate many endangered plant species.
Manages Competing Vegetation
Depending upon the desired composition and diversity of the forest or land, the judicious use of prescribed fire can manage competition for water, nutrients and growing space.
Promotes Native Vegetation
Use of prescribed fire encourages new growth of native vegetation and maintains the many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire.
Controls Insects and Diseases
Prescribed fire helps reduce some fungal diseases such as root rot since it affects the makeup of the forest floor, most likely by destroying some of the fruiting bodies and cauterizing tree stumps. Prescribed fire is also the most effective and practical means of controlling brown spot disease in longleaf pine seedlings and cone insects such as the white pine cone beetle.
Improves Wildlife Habitat
Prescribed burning stimulates seed germination of many species and provides open conditions at ground level for travel, loafing and feeding by game bird broods, rabbits and ground-feeding songbirds. The responding ground cover provides forage, soft mast and seed eaten by many birds, mammals and reptiles. Prescribed burning also influences the composition and structure of cover available for wildlife.
Prescribed fire is highly recommended for wildlife habitat management where loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf or slash pine is the primary over story species. Periodic fire is beneficial for understory species that provide browse for wildlife.
For example, whitetail deer thrive after fire. In habitats where fire has been suppressed over a long period of time, the vegetation can eventually grow high and out of reach for a deer. After a fire, the vegetation is brought back down to ground level within reach and is more nutritious. In southern grassland habitats, prairieland chickens and quail thrive in post-fire environments, which provide a variety of food and attract various insects that they require.
Burning Restrictions
Definitions
Red Flag Warning – Issued by the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service will issue a “Red Flag Warning” for specific areas when weather conditions indicate a high fire potential. This warning is very short term, and is only in place while the weather conditions are occurring. A warning will be issued when the following conditions occur.
- KBDI greater than 300
- And Minimum Relative Humidity values less than 25%
- And 20 Foot Winds 15 mph or greater
- And these conditions lasting for a 4 hour duration or longer
*If a particular county is under a Fire Alert, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) criterion is suspended.
Fire Danger Advisory – Issued by the AFC
When extremely dry weather conditions and low humidity combine to create an atmosphere favorable for wildfires, the Alabama Forestry Commission urges everyone to delay outdoor burning until conditions improve if at all possible.
Fire Alert – Issued by the AFC
When weather conditions are such that there are an abnormal number of wildfires, or several unusually large wildfires in an area, or when there is an issue with severe smoke causing air quality degradation, The State Forester may issue a Fire Alert for specified counties. This allows the Alabama Forestry Commission to restrict the issuing of Burning permits. On most days, permits are issued to everyone who meets the requirements of the permit law. During a Fire Alert, only Certified Prescribed Burn Managers with adequate manpower and equipment may be issued a permit.
Drought Emergency – Issued by the Governor
A Drought Emergency can be declared when a Fire Alert fails to control a wildfire situation. Generally this occurs when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is over 600 and there are on average more than 1 wildfire per county per day over a wide area. The State Forester works with the Governor’s Office to issue a formal regulation, which has the effect of law. A Drought Emergency is commonly called a “No Burn Order” and prohibits any outdoor burning, including any prescribed burns, camp fires, trash fires.
The regulations allow barbeque fires for cooking IF the fire is in a charcoal grill or masonry barbeque pit, including large barbeque pits used by civic organizations to prepare food. Anyone grilling or barbequing during the Drought Emergency should have water hoses on site to prevent any loose sparks from setting a wildfire, a circle at least 10 feet wide around the grill should be cleared of any burnable material. Side fires to generate coals for a barbeque must also be within a grill or masonry pit. Gas grills are allowed.
USDA Forest Service Public-Use Restrictions – Issued by the Forest Service
During times of high wildfire danger, The USDA Forest Service may restrict or close a portion of a National Forest to the public. This is a safety consideration as well as a fire prevention action. These restrictions are posted on the USDA Forest Service website.
Fire Weather Resources
The following links can provide the weather information needed to conduct a prescribed burn safely and efficiently. To streamline access to your local fire weather, download our mobile app. If you have any questions regarding prescribed fire weather or prescribed fire, please contact our local county offices, we will be glad to answer any questions you may have to assist with your prescribed burn.
- Daily Fire Weather Forecast: Birmingham | Huntsville | Mobile | Tallahassee
- Drought Monitor Map of Alabama
- Intellicast 24 Hour Precipitation Map
- Intellicast WINDcast
- KBD Index Map – Areas above 500 are in severe fire danger
- National Weather Service Fire Map
- NWS East Alabama Rainfall Map
- NWS Red Flag Warnings
