Personnel note: Jane Russell, Katrenia Kier elected to lead Alabama Forestry Commission
The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) elected Jane T. Russell as new Chair and Katrenia Pruitt Kier as Vice-Chair at a board meeting earlier this month. Although several females have served as chairs in the past, this is the first time in the history of the AFC that both officers have been women. Kier has been a member of the Commission since February 2016, and Russell since February 2014. The seven-member board, which is appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate, is responsible for creating policy for the Forestry Commission, the state agency responsible for protecting and sustaining Alabama’s forest resources. “We look forward to working with these two leaders as our agency faces the challenges of the coming year. Mrs. Russell’s experience as an Alabama forest landowner combined with Ms. Kier’s corporate knowledge make them great assets to the Forestry Commission.” said Rick Oates, Alabama’s State Forester. Russell graduated from high school in Luverne, Ala., earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University and taught at Highland Home Elementary School. She and her husband are also landowners operating a cattle farm. In addition, Russell has been actively involved in her community, and held various leadership positions with the Montgomery County Farmers Federation including: Past Chair and Past President of the Forestry Committee. She currently serves as Scholarship Chair for the organization, a role she has enjoyed for the last 12 years. Kier was born in Chicago, Ill., but has strong ties to the Yellowhammer State ash both her parents are from Madison County. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and earned a Business Management Certificate from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. She is the owner of a 30 year old real estate brokerage firm in Huntsville, established by her late husband, Richard Kier, in 1987. Kier also holds the national assistant secretary position for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB).
Rain brings short-term relief, didn’t end Alabama drought
Meteorologists say storms that dumped as much as 5 inches of rain on Alabama didn’t end the drought. The heaviest rains fell near the middle of the state, accumulating about 5 inches. Precipitation totals of more than 2 inches were common throughout central Alabama late Monday and early Tuesday. Although rainfall amounts varied across the counties of the state, it is expected to give only short-term relief to the wildfires burning recently in Alabama. “The precipitation we received should temporarily help us with the wildfire situation and hopefully more rain is on the way,” stated Interim State Forester Gary Cole of the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC). “This reprieve will allow firefighters some much needed rest, as well as an opportunity to perform equipment repairs and maintenance.” Monday was a historic day in the number of active wildfires burning in Alabama for one day: 108 fires destroyed 2,742 acres across the state. Cole continued, “Most of us veteran firefighters here don’t remember that many fires in one day. Not only was the number of wildfires higher, but they were also larger in size.” “I cannot thank the men and women with the Alabama Forestry Commission enough for their dedication, tireless efforts and countless hours spent battling fires across the state,” said Bentley. “Because of their efforts, wildfires in Alabama have been prevented from doing extensive damage. Their commitment to protecting life, property and wildlife does not go unnoticed.” Many areas are more than a foot below normal rainfall, and as such Governor Robert Bentley‘s statewide ‘No Burn’ Order —prohibiting all outdoor or open burning, making it illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes; building a campfire or bonfire; or burn trash or debris — remains in effect. Additional rain this week may allow the situation to be re-assessed later this week.
2 of 1,100 Alabama wildfires under investigation
Alabama’s fire marshal says state officers are investigating two of nearly 1,100 statewide wildfires as possible arson. Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen says a fire that burned 800 acres in DeKalb County is under investigation. So is a series of three blazes that burned 65 acres along Interstate 65 north of Birmingham last week. No arrests have been made. But Pilgreen says officers also issued a few misdemeanor citations to people who allegedly violated a statewide no-burn order during the drought. The Alabama Forestry Commission says about 1,100 wildfires have burned more than 12,500 acres in the last month. The agency attributes most of those blazes to carelessness, like people tossing cigarette butts on the ground. But a spokeswoman says the cause of most of those wildfires is unknown. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Robert Bentley expands drought emergency to all 67 Alabama counties
Gov. Robert Bentley announced the entire state of Alabama is now under a Drought Emergency Declaration. Effective as of 3 p.m. Monday, all 67 Alabama counties have been placed under a No Burn Order, with all outdoor burning prohibited due to the high risk of wildfires. According to the governor’s office, since the first of October, a total of 1,421 wildfires have occurred in Alabama, destroying approximately 15,409 acres of land. Last year in the same time frame, there were only 232 wildfires, burning 1,846 acres across the state. “Although 46 counties in North Alabama were already under the No Burn Order, it was necessary to add the remaining 21 counties in the southern part of the state because of alarming wildfire activity and continued lack of rainfall,” Bentley said in a statement released Monday. “The expansion of this No Burn Order is critical to keeping our citizens safe from the threat of wildfires and reducing the chance of avoidable fires.” Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) wildland firefighters are currently battling a 700-acre blaze that has burned since Friday in Walker County. Over the weekend, other large wildfires burned in Baldwin, Coosa. and Wilcox counties, affecting several property owners. “With these extremely dry conditions, any fire can quickly spread out of control, explained Interim State Forester Gary Cole of the AFC. “Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen an increase not only in the number of wildfires that have occurred, but also the size. Several of these fires have been large, not only resulting in damage to our forests but also directly threatening residential areas. If not for the efforts of Forestry Commission firefighters and assistance from volunteer fire departments, we would have lost homes.” Under the Drought Emergency No Burn Order, it is illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands, or marshes; to build a campfire or bonfire; or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass or woods fire. Specifically, the regulation prohibits any prescribed burns, any campfire or bonfire, any trash or debris fires, or any other open burning. If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn order is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. The No Burn order will remain in effect until rescinded by the state forester, when conditions will have changed sufficiently to reduce the occurrence and frequency of wildfires. To report persons burning in violation of this law, contact your local law enforcement. For more information on the current wildfire situation in the state, visit Alabama Forestry Commission’s website at forestry.alabama.gov.
25 day drought fuels 910 wildfires; “burn ban” remains in effect across Alabama
As extremely dry conditions continue to plague the entire state, a total of 46 counties in north and central Alabama remain under a burn ban ordered by Governor Robert Bentley on October 12, which prohibits all outdoor burning. Despite the ongoing ban, an Alabama Forestry Commission official said Monday that 910 wildfires have destroyed more than 10,000 acres across Alabama since Oct. 1. “The drought creates a dangerous scenario where wildfire can quickly spread out of control, destroying forestland and threatening homes,” said interim State Forester Gary Cole. Over the last few weeks, wildland firefighters with the Alabama Forestry Commission have been busy battling such wildfires in all 67 counties of the state. “Unfortunately there is no relief in sight,” Cole continued. “The 10-day forecast for Alabama shows almost no potential for rainfall, with above-average temperatures and lower humidity.” Cole explained the situation causes grave concern for fire officials with the agency, struggling with reduced availability of both firefighting manpower and suppression resources. “It’s not a good outlook for our team of firefighters who are already putting in long, difficult hours in the woods trying to suppress these blazes,” he said. According to the United States Drought Monitor more than two-thirds of the state is at least severely dry for this time of year with roughly one-third facing an extreme or exceptional drought. Under the No Burn Order, it is illegal for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands, or marshes; to build a campfire or bonfire; or to burn trash, debris, or other material that may cause a forest, grass, or woods fire. The regulation also prohibits all open burning and prescribed burns. If convicted, the penalty for violating the No Burn Order is a fine of up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail. Additionally, a Fire Alert remains in effect for the 21 other counties in south Alabama which was issued earlier by the Alabama Forestry Commission. While under the Fire Alert, permits for outdoor burning are restricted and issued on an individual basis.
New Robert Bentley drought declaration bans all outdoor burning in 46 Alabama counties
With drought conditions persisting in across Alabama, the state has issued burn bans. Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday signed a Drought Emergency Declaration due to extremely dry conditions banning burning in 46 counties in north and central Alabama. The declaration, often referred to as a ‘No Burn Order’, went into effect 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2016. “The current drought condition in our state is posing a serious threat for wildfires,” Bentley said in a news release. “The continued lack of rain combined with low relative humidity and strong winds are putting several counties at a very high risk. This declaration is meant to prevent unnecessary burning, reducing the chance of avoidable fires.” Additionally, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has issued a Fire Alert for the remaining counties in south Alabama, effective immediately. “We need rain desperately. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen an increase, not only in the number of wildfires, but also in the size of these fires. Several of them have been very large wildfires,” State Forester Gary Cole said. “With this extremely dry weather, conditions are such that any fire can quickly spread out of control, not only resulting in damage to our forests but also threatening and destroying homes. These burning restrictions are a necessary result of the ongoing lack of precipitation, the recent increased number of fires, high probability of fuel ignition, as well as the reduced availability of firefighting manpower and suppression resources across the state.” Over the last seven days, 341 wildfires have burned over 4,100 acres in Alabama, according to Alabama Forestry Commission fire officials. The Drought Emergency Declaration order will remain in effect until rescinded by the State Forester, at which time conditions will have changed sufficiently to reduce the occurrence and frequency of wildfires. The No Burn Order affects the following counties which have been upgraded from the previously-issued Fire Alert: Autauga Bibb Blount Calhoun Chambers Cherokee Chilton Clay Cleburne Colbert Coosa Cullman Dallas DeKalb Elmore Etowah Fayette Franklin Greene Hale Jackson Jefferson Lamar Lauderdale Lawrence Lee Limestone Lowndes Macon Madison Marion Marshall Montgomery Morgan Perry Pickens Randolph Russell Shelby St. Clair Sumter Talladega Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa Walker Winston
Wildfires charring north Alabama amid Forestry Commission fire danger warning
Forestry officials say wildfires are burning across Alabama as drought conditions worsen. The Alabama Forestry Commission reports that about 70 blazes burned around 730 acres of land on Sunday alone, and no appreciable rain is in the forecast to lessen the threat. The situation is worst in north Alabama, where drought conditions are most severe. The state issued a fire danger warning for 46 of Alabama’s 67 counties last week, and officials said it will continue until rain returns to the state. The National Drought Mitigation Center reports that 86 percent of Alabama is abnormally dry, and northeast Alabama is particularly hard hit. More than 10 counties in that area are experiencing an extreme drought. Statistics show drought conditions are far worse in Alabama this year than in 2015. Several counties in Mississippi have adopted burn bans due to recently dry conditions. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama business roundup: Headlines from across the state
Here’s a roundup of some of the top business headlines from across the state this week: AL.com: Up from the ashes: Developers awarded $3.7 million federal loan to transform Birmingham’s historic Powell School Developers seeking to restore and redevelop Birmingham’s oldest school building have been awarded a $3.7 million federal loan to undertake the project. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, today announced the award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Integral Group to redevelop the 127-year-old Powell School building downtown. Integral plans to convert the building into 24 units of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. “I am thrilled that this award will play a vital role in redeveloping downtown Birmingham,” Sewell said. “This project will create opportunities for economic development and bring much needed attention to the area. I applaud the efforts of local leaders who have joined together in ensuring that we address deteriorating and blighting structures in the Magic City.” The HUD loan is through the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program designed to eliminate and prevent blight. Powell School, at 2329 Sixth Ave. N., was built in 1888. The Victorian structure was nearly destroyed by a massive fire in Jan. 2011. When demolition appeared imminent, historic preservationists urged the city of Birmingham to spare the structure to give them more time to find other options. Mayor William Bell and the City Council then agreed to turn ownership of the property, along with $500,000 of seed money, to the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. Preservationists used the money to clean and secure the building, along with replacing the destroyed roof. “We are delighted that HUD has approved that loan and we are optimistic that we will be able to see renovation begin in the next few months,” said Michael Calvert, former president of Operation New Birmingham, who has served as a volunteer with the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation to market the old school. “This was a key and it is a critical element, no question about it. The other things that are critical are the historic tax credits that we believe have been reserved both by the state of Alabama and the federal government.” Mayor William Bell also celebrated today’s announcement, calling the loan a major step in returning life to the historic building. “We had some concerns early on that the building was beyond repair,” Bell said, recalling the devastating fire. “It could have gone either way. This gives us an opportunity not only to save a structure, but to also create more residential space in the downtown area. Bell said the Powell School project was one of two major redevelopments in which the city collaborated with developers seeking HUD assistance. The other was the Pizitz Building currently being redeveloped by Bayer Properties. According to its plan, Integral will hire a team that includes Birmingham-based Williams Blackstock Architects and Christy/Cobb Inc. engineering. Integral is already established downtown as the management and leasing manager for Park Place, the mixed-income Hope VI development that surrounds Powell School. Alabama Newscenter: Tall timber: Forests on the rise throughout Alabama Contrary to popular belief that urban encroachment is depleting forests, timberland is actually increasing in Alabama. The state now has a record-high 23 million acres of timber, putting it third in the country behind Georgia and Oregon, according to a new report by the Alabama Forestry Commission. Since 2000, timber volume has grown 18 percent, and now accounts for 69 percent of the state’s total area. Meanwhile, the rate of replacing harvested timber continues to outpace cutting, with every ton of timber harvested replaced by 1.55 tons of new growth. “The annualized inventory of Alabama’s forests continues to show all the benefits we derive from our vast forests – wood products, clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities – can be managed in a sustainable way,” said State Forester Greg Pate. “The fact more land is being put into timberland is icing on the cake.” Another myth is Alabama is overrun with pine trees. But the ratio of pines to hardwoods is about equal, with 9.9 million acres of pines and 9.8 million in hardwoods. A mixture of hardwood and softwood trees account for 3.2 million acres. The vast majority of Alabama’s timberland, 94 percent, is privately owned; the rest is in public hands. About 7 percent of the state’s timberland is owned by “forest industries” – that is, companies that process wood, according to the Forestry Commission report, while 87 percent is owned by non-industrial, private owners. Birmingham Business Journal: Coal War, Part III: What EPA regulations mean for Alabama coal producers *Editor’s Note: This is the third installment of the BBJ’s five-part online series investigating the state of Alabama’s coal industry and its future.* Aside from market forces, much of the blame for the recent downturn in the Alabama coal industry has been focused primarily on one entity – the Environmental Protection Agency. Even last week, the government agencymodified a previous decree to Alabama Power Co., leading the utility to announce it would permanently close three coal-fired facilities and swap four others to natural gas. Alabama Power in 2014 also blamed federal regulations when it announced it would close two coal-fired units in Walker County. This week, though, the EPA was dealt a setback to its policy when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the EPA had not taken cost into consideration when asking utilities to expedite the process of cutting mercury emissions from their coal-fired power plants. While the new changes to EPA regulations have Alabama Power reconsidering its energy production, what do they mean for Alabama coal producers like Hoover-based Walter Energy Inc.and Drummond Co. Inc.? What EPA regulations are hurting Alabama coal producers? Ron Gord, head of the air quality division at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, said in an interview with the Birmingham Business Journal that the most recent regulation put in place – the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, or CSAPR – likely won’t have a major impact on coal producers. Yellowhammer News: World’s largest
