Alabama Forestry Commission Faces Budget Cuts

The Alabama Forestry Commission has been busy this week. They've helped put out more than a dozen intentionally set fires in Baldwin County since march 16th. Some like regional forester Gary Cole, worry damage from arson will get worse with budget cuts.

“It will lengthen response times, your fire size would certainly double or better,” says Cole. “If these budget cuts go into effect you might see, probably would see, one fire suppression unit, so we'd have to fight one at time instead of two at a time.” The budget cuts amount to $5.8 million—43% of the commission's annual budget. Cole says they cut or did not re hire 70 positions last year and may have to cut that many or more this year. He says that hurts response times, especially here.

“Mobile County is the highest fire currents county and Baldwin county is number two,” says Cole. Cole says the governor doesn't consider the forestry commission a public safety agency--but others disagree.

"We do protect property owners and others from damage from forest fires," says Cole.