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Decatur fire behind Kroger serves as reminder for fire safety.

Alleviating the effects of - or outright preventing - a brush fire is as simple as cleaning up your yard.

Over 60% of Alabama - including the state's four northern border counties - is dealing with what the National Integrated Drought Information System calls “abnormally dry" conditions. And, after a wood fire levelled most of a bulldozing site behind the Kroger on Beltline Road SW in Decatur Sunday night, fire safety remains important.

Sites like the one home to the Sunday night fire are filled with wood, brush and shrubbery. These low-to-the-ground plants can easily catch on fire. In the aftermath of an actual fire, plants and dirt dry out, making them even easier to disintegrate or reignite amidst smoldering. As wind picks up, embers can fly, making the potential impact area much further than the fire's original location.

Regardless of how much green space your home is around, fire safety tips are always applicable.

Keep a 30-foot or greater safety zone around your home that is clear of flammable vegetation and firewood. Fire can move more quickly up hills, so if you live on any major incline, expand that fire safety zone to account for that space. 

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in your home, get one. Make sure every member of the household knows where it is located and how to use it in case of an emergency. If you have one already, check its expiration date and review the instructions to make sure you know how to use it correctly. If you’re in a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1.

While this weather may be perfect to gather around a campfire, it’s important to remember safety.

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