Prescribed burning is the best management tool for preventing larger and more frequent outbreaks.
Governor Kay Ivey has signed a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Prescribed Fire Awareness Month in the state of Alabama.
The Alabama Prescribed Fire Council requested the proclamation to raise awareness of the essential role fire plays in both the stewardship of natural resources and the protection of lives and property.
Prescribed burning is the skilled application of fire under planned weather and fuel conditions to achieve specific forest and land management objectives.
Alabama Forestry Commission Prescribed Fire Program Coordinator Rickey Fields said:
“Prescribed burning is conducted on approximately one million acres in Alabama each year. Each prescribed burn has numerous benefits.”
The practice, carried out by experienced land managers, requires a clear understanding of appropriate weather conditions, fuel loads, and atmospheric factors when conducting such burns.
These controlled fires serve as an important tool for reducing wildfires, enhancing wildlife habitat, and maintaining the productivity of Alabama’s nearly 23 million acres of forestland.
Gov. Ivey stated: “Prescribed burning is the best management tool available for preventing larger and more frequent outbreaks and it is critical to the ecological integrity of our natural resources.”
