By james art 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Fires have been raging and causing a lot of destruction across the state so far this fall.
Firefighters from Birmingham are fighting four fires Friday morning, next to Bessemer firefighters trying to put out a house fire just hours later, many communities saw disaster.
“We’ve seen a lot of apartment fires in the last week alone, and that means not only are you affected and you’ve lost everything, but it also means your neighbor has the neighbor next door,” said Annette Rowland with the Alabama Red Cross. “Unfortunately, these things are spreading faster than ever before.”
The dry weather Alabama is experiencing doesn’t help.
This week, the Alabama Forestry Commission strongly discourages open burning.
The spokesman added that embers from fires could cause problems for homes.
“There’s a risk that some of that coal could rise up and land on your house,” Rowland said. “In dry conditions like these, they are very likely to cause a fire to spread and once it starts, it is very difficult to contain it.”
Controlling a fire can be a challenge, but preventing it is often easier.
The Red Cross urges people to keep flammable items at least three feet away from objects that get hot, such as space heaters.
They suggest never leaving a candle unattended, and for people who smoke, use sturdy ashtrays and soak cigarette butts and cigars in water before disposing of them.
The organization also wants Alabamians to be on high alert and stay safe this Thanksgiving.
“The holidays are coming up,” Rowland said. “People cook outside. You have these turkey fryers.
Rowland also said homes burn more easily these days, and not just because of building materials, but also items like memory foam mattresses and throw pillows.
She said it was vital that people considered which items in their home posed a potential risk.
Also, make an escape plan in case of fire so that everyone in the home knows what to do.
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