By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore Fire Chief Ron Peebles issued last week a ban on all outdoor burning within the city limits. The ban is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.
Peebles said a lack of rain over recent weeks prompted the decision.
“I’m activating the ban inside the city due to the extreme, dry conditions,” he said. “Green grass will burn right now.”
The action came less than a week after a fire, whipped by high winds, burned nearly 30 acres near Atmore Municipal Airport before firefighters from Atmore, Poarch and Walnut Hill tamed the flames.
Another brush fire erupted just off James Road, near Nokomis, on Sunday (October 9). AFD units were dispatched to the site and spent 50 minutes helping the Nokomis firefighters take control of the blaze.
National Weather Service forecasts call for little relief over the next week, although there is an 80 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms in the area during the day on Wednesday, October 12.
A 60-percent chance of such storms exists during Wednesday’s evening hours, and there is a 50 percent chance they will continue into the morning hours of Thursday.
“We need a good, soaking rain,” said Peebles. “If we don’t get some rain pretty soon, we could have a mess on our hands.”