All burn restrictions have been lifted across Alabama, according to the Alabama Forestry Commission. Some counties, however, remain under a fuel advisory requiring extra safety steps be taken before burning.

Burn permits will now be issued as normal throughout the state, AFC said.

“Although we still have not received enough rain to eliminate drought conditions in all areas of the state, we are beginning to see a wetter pattern,” State Forester Rick Oates. “With higher humidities and good recovery occurring at night from dew fall, surface fuels have moved out of critical fire danger thresholds and the chance of significant wildfire potential has decreased across the state.”

Eleven counties – Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, and Talladega – are under a fuel advisory that will require “extreme caution” when burning due to abnormally dry conditions in those areas. The 11 counties have been under a no-burn order since Nov. 9.

Even with the wetter weather, Oates said drought conditions persist and fires can still escape, especially during windy conditions or periods of low relative humidity, defined as 30% or less. These fires are difficult to contain and can burn for days in the organic layer of the soil.

In the fuel advisory counties, people are asked to rake or plow around a pile they plan to burn, water soil to full saturation to prevent fire from escaping, and never leave a fire unattended. For smaller debris burns, people should have a garden hose or other water supply on hand.

You can see more on burn requirements here.