BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Strong winds are wreaking havoc when it comes to efforts to put down wildfires across Alabama.
CBS 42 News spoke briefly over Zoom with Alabama State Forester Rick Oates, who said as of late Tuesday afternoon, there was 101 wildfires in the state.
The winds are making the job of firefighters a lot more difficult, Oates said.
“They blow embers across our suppression lines, and that causes the fire to get on the other side," Oates said. "We call it a jump."
He said when that happens, it starts another fire, and then they have to put in a new line to stop the fire.
Oates said there is a fire advisory, and the Alabama Forestry Commission is not issuing burn permits Tuesday.
“We are strongly advising people do not light fires outside today because they will blow and get out of control before you know it," Oates said.
He added that what is needed is a soaking rain across the state. Oates said what’s made it so bad in the past week is not just the wind, but the low levels of relative humidity.