Wildfires burning around metro Birmingham as drought worsens
BROOKSIDE, Ala. (AP) — Officials say wildfires are burning around the metro Birmingham area, and no rain is in sight to put them out.
Incident commander Derrick Heckman of the Alabama Forestry Commission says crews are on the scene of a large fire that's burning in an old mining strip pit in Brookside.
A fire east of Birmingham around Interstate 20 is contained, but he says it will likely continue burning for days. The agency says the fire damaged several structures, but no injuries are reported.
Wildfires have burned more than 12,000 acres statewide in the last month as a drought worsens in the South.
The latest federal statistics show the entire state is locked in a severe drought, and conditions are worst in northeastern Alabama. Forecasters say no substantial rainfall is predicted.