From staff and wire reports

Despite all of the rain that has inundated Alabama this year, unwavering high temperatures are cooking ground cover in some areas, making burning a worry.

City and Limestone County residents therefore should be careful when burning.

What was supposed to be a controlled burn Tuesday on undeveloped land in south Mobile County turned into a wildfire that had burned about 4,000 acres by Thursday. The Alabama Forestry Commission is investigating.

Gary Cole, a regional forester, said it’s so dry despite plenty of rain because a string of 100-degree days has 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 the Forestry Commission had not issued a fire alert.

“Burning could be a risk with the temperatures so high, but we are not under a burn ban,” said Athens firefighter Tommy Lewis, at Station 1.

Unlike residents in some cities, Athens residents are allowed to burn as long as they get a permit first from the Fire Department.

But just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

A resident reported a grass fire out of control about 3:40 p.m. Friday at Sommerest and Booker Drive in Athens.