Alabama Burn Laws
Alabama Burn Permits
According to the Alabama Forestry Commission:
"Alabama law (9-13-11) requires that you obtain a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission to conduct a prescribed burn for silvicultural and agricultural purposes.
In general, the permit means the burner has the manpower and equipment to control the fire and agrees to stay with the fire until it is out. If the proposed fire is less than ¼ 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."
Alabama Prescribed Burn Act
The Prescribed Burning Act (Section 9-13-270) outlines the rights of landowners to use prescribed burning and to address burner liability.
The law expressly states that “Prescribed Burning is a landowner property right and a land management tool that benefits the safety of the public, the environment, the natural resources, and the economy of Alabama.” (Section 9-13-271(a)) This statement means that the proper use of prescribed burning can only be restricted by a statutory law passed by the legislature and not by any agency regulations.
Fire Ecology &
Habitat Management
Resources
Facebook Groups & Pages
While we do not endorse everything posted in these groups, these are ones that we have identified as having good content and a decent culture.
Our Facebook Page
We're biased but we think you should start your journey into fire on facebook with a trip to our page to see what's new and what folks are talking about. After you give us a like, you're clear to burn through the rest of these groups.
Videos
The Case for Burns in a Flash
Prescribed fire is so important that most southern states have had one of their departments produce short videos to help folks understand prescribed burning.
If you’re new to prescribed fire or are looking for a good place to start the discussion with someone in your community, these nice short videos will get you off to a good start.
How to Burn
Prescribed Fire Ignition Techniques Playlist
by: Alabama Cooperative Extension
- Introduction
- Backing Fire
- Burning Piles
- Flanking Fire
- Heading/Strip Head Fire
- Point Source Fire
Why Burn
Books
These are our favorite books.
Please note that if you use the amazon affiliate links we will get a small contribution from Amazon when you order this and any other product in your cart.
Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast
(A Timber Press Field Guide)
A Sand County Almanac
by Aldo Leopold
Native Trees of the Southeast
Native Trees of the Southeast
Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain
The title may say Florida but we assure you, this is a good read for anyone in Alabama.
Podcast Episodes
Organizations
These are our favorite organizations.
The mission of Tall Timbers is to foster exemplary land
stewardship through research, conservation and education.
Their primary research focus is the ecology and management of fire-dependent ecosystems, and its wildlife, including bobwhite quail, in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
The Longleaf Alliance works throughout the Southeast U.S. to guide longleaf restoration, stewardship, and conservation using science-based outreach, partnership engagement, and on-the-ground assistance.
ALPFC Purpose (a). provide a focus for issues and concerns (b). facilitate communication and the exchange of information (c). provide a forum where all interested parties may participated. promote a general public understanding prescribed fire and distinguishing between prescribed fire and wild land fire, (e). promote safety, training, and research in the art and science of prescribed fire, (f). provide a forum for discussions on prescribed fire practices, and (g). promote and facilitate an increase in acres treated annually with prescribed fire.
The America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative (ALRI) is a collaborative effort of multiple public and private sector partners that actively supports range-wide efforts to restore and conserve longleaf pine ecosystems.
The vision of the partners involved in the ALRI is to have functional, viable longleaf pine ecosystems with the full spectrum of ecological, economic and social values inspired through the voluntary involvement of motivated organizations and individuals.
Fire science information, resources, and funding announcements for scientists ans fire practitioners.
On this site, you can:
- Apply for funding
- Read summaries of research to stay up-to-date
- Register for events like conferences and webinars
Our goal is to promote the restoration and management of native ecosystems.
You can’t appreciate what you don’t know, so our number one priority is creating educational content that highlights the incredible value of our native ecosystems.
The Wildland Fire site within the Landscape Partnership portal serves as a clearinghouse to support technical experts as a community of practice, currently focused on the southern states.
This site links individuals and diverse groups with the information each maintains on wildland fire.
Their purpose is to increase connectivity and information sharing within the larger fire community but also between the fire community of practice and other landscape conservation practitioners
The Wildland Fire site within the Landscape Partnership portal serves as a clearinghouse to support technical experts as a community of practice, currently focused on the southern states.
This site links individuals and diverse groups with the information each maintains on wildland fire.
Their purpose is to increase connectivity and information sharing within the larger fire community but also between the fire community of practice and other landscape conservation practitioners
Representing 11 southern states, we work with numerous partners throughout the region to increase the use of available fire science, facilitate discussions about the relevance of research results and future research needs, and connect fire managers and researchers.
We share fire science research results and information with natural resource managers, landowners, and scientists by offering a variety of resources and events:
CFPFC brings members of the fire community together to encourage responsible prescribed fire activities and disseminate information about prescribed fire to those involved with prescribed fire as well as to anyone who would like to learn more about prescribed fire.
Florida land managers learn and discuss management strategies to restore and maintain the ecological integrity of our land. This education assists in reducing liabilities and fosters the best management practices possible that benefit Florida’s fire dependent ecosystems.
In 2005, state environmental and natural resource officials from across the southeast partnered with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to form the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS). The region covered by SERPPAS includes the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The Partnership came together to promote better collaboration in making resource use decisions. SERPPAS works to prevent encroachment around military lands, encourage compatible resource-use decisions, and improve coordination among regions, states, communities and military services.