By Associated Press
Mobile, AL – The Alabama Forestry Commission is investigating how a controlled burn in south Mobile County turned into a wildfire that scorched an estimated 3,000 acres.
A regional forester said the fire that started Tuesday had worsened Wednesday afternoon and an additional 1,000 acres was expected to be burned by the end of the day.
Gary Cole said it's so dry despite plenty of rain because a string of 100-degree days as sucked all the moisture out of the ground.
Officials said Cahaba Forestry Services had a three-day permit for a prescribed burn on the undeveloped land.
Cole said a permit was issued, despite the dry conditions, because a fire alert had not been issued by the Forestry Commission.