By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Residents may be tempted to clear storm debris by burning it. That's why the Alabama Forestry Commission has placed 17 southwestern Alabama counties under a fire alert. It began Friday and will remain in effect until further notice. It restricts the number of outdoor burn permits issued to residents of those areas. Fire officials say the smoke from burning household debris can be extremely dangerous. They're also worried that blocked roads, inoperable phone lines and a shortage of firefighters would make controlling fires much more difficult. The state Forestry Commission is working with some counties to establish incineration areas where residents can burn their trash.