Gadsden and Etowah County firefighters are having a hard time containing a brush fire on the east side of Noccalula Mountain near the Bellevue and Paseur Park area of Gadsden this morning. Our Hokes Bluff SkyWatcher, Josh Tanner, is assisting, and he says about 15 acres are involved right now. The fire is now (11:10) about 200 yards from some residences, and tanker trucks are being called in because they have exhausted the water supply on the mountain.
You can see the smoke from our Gadsden SkyCam.
There is no word on any evacuations at this point. Fires like this are a big reminder of the problems that dry weather like this brings. Since January, here’s how Central Alabama’s rain deficits stack up:
*Birmingham International Airport: -11.23†(9.20†since 1/1)
*Tuscaloosa Airport: -13.84†(8.42†since 1/1)
*Anniston Airport: -12.57†(8.63†since 1/1)
