Local News
No-burn order reinstated
By Brittany WoodbyFire spread over 10 acres of land in Cold Springs Thursday, erupting only hours after Gov. Bob Riley signed into effect a no burn order for most of the state.
“In these conditions, a lot of things can start fires,” Cold Springs firefighter Jim Carnathan said. Carnathan was one of several firefighters from Cold Springs Fire Department and Dodge City Fire Department keeping watch over the flames off of County Road 92. “Broken mirrors and chrome from cars, coke bottles, if the sun catches these things it could cause a fire.”
However, Carnathan and Cullman County forester Steven Jones said one of the biggest causes of wildfire blazes is disobedience to the No Burn Order.
“There’s always someone who’s going to ignore [the no-burn order],” Carnathan said. “As dry as it is, it only takes someone throwing a cigarette out their window to catch a fire.”
Under the No Burn Order, it is illegal to do any outdoor burning, including bonfires and campfires. Burning leaves and trash is forbidden and Jones said no burn permits will be issued from the county forestry office.
State Forester Linda Casey said in a press release the No Burn Order was recommended by the commission after an increase in reported wildfires.
“Some of these fires have directly threatened homes and if not for the efforts of commission firefighters and volunteer fire departments we would have lost homes,” she said.
Carnathan said his department has not seen as many wildfires as he anticipated, but the ones they have responded to have been large and hard to control.
“We were out here [on County Road 92] Monday with this fire,” Carnathan said. “We stayed until about 10 p.m. and had it put out. The forestry commission came out and bulldozed a break around the bottom of the hill but then we got another call [Thursday] that it had flared up again.”
The fire had burned one acre of land Monday before being rekindled. Firefighters controlled the fire Thursday evening, preventing the fire from posing a threat to homes in the area.
Carnathan said the cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation by the county foresters.
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Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
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Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
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Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
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Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
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City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
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Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
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Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
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Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
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Smith Lake residents split on water plans
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Signing on
Four local water authority representatives signed contracts Tuesday to join with the city of Cullman’s Duck River dam reservoir project.
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Possible homicide in Fairview
