By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Chilton County is under a fire warning from the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

The warning urges all citizens not to start any outdoor fires due to low humidity and high winds. Fire danger is considered elevated through Sunday. Many other counties in central Alabama are under the warning as well.

Residents near Lay Lake have seen the danger firsthand, as a fire reportedly burned this weekend on the Coosa County side of the river. Smoke has drifted through Clanton from the fire, concerning many citizens.

“We quit issuing burn permits about a week ago,” said David Driver, Clanton’s Fire Chief. “You can’t even get one. As dry as it is right now, we strongly encourage people not to burn anything.”

Driver said that it is illegal in the city limits to burn things without a burn permit. The department had to temporarily stop issuing them due to the dry conditions. Officials will continue to monitor the situation.

To view fire hazard information, go to weather.gov/bmx/hwo.