A new policy at some Buc-ee’s fuel pumps is sparking some debate among customers.
The new policy has been implemented at many of its locations and some customers are none too happy.
Signs have recently appeared at the pumps at certain Buc-ee’s that directs customers to only use their credit cards at the pumps but to continue prepaying with cash inside the stores.
This new policy began on March 1, 2026, according to the signs and people are already taking issue with this new method of paying.
Several customers online have spoken about the security of their card and skimmers, and one said that they will never enter a Buc-ee’s store again.
Social media reveals a divide between customers who believe the rule is justifiable and those who believe it poses an inconvenience.
We have contacted the corporate offices for their comment.
Local Buc-ee’s do not have public phone numbers and an assistant manager said that they are not allowed to comment on policies.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
A volunteer group has kept a watchful eye on the City of Chelsea for the past twenty-seven years and they’ve made a difference by providing free security patrols.
Known as the Chelsea Citizen Observer Patrol (COP), they were recently celebrated at the 27th annual awards dinner.
Former Birmingham police chief A.C. Roper served as the keynote speaker, highlighting the importance of volunteer patrols and their dedication.
I remember when the group first formed. They had one older patrol vehicle and a couple of retirees that volunteered their time to patrol the small town just off Highway 280. At that time, the community was policed by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and their fire service was provided by the volunteer fire department. As of today, the town still does not employ a municipal police force or a paid fire department.
At its incorporation in 1996, there were only 906 residents. Today there are over 16,000 residents. It is a rapidly developing residential area, boasting a median age of 37.6.
In 2025, COP volunteers contributed 8,227 hours of service to keep the city “safe, strong and connected,” the city stated.
“We are deeply grateful for the time, heart, and commitment these volunteers give to Chelsea and Westover,” the city added.
Officials honored COP members who have passed and awarded current members. Allison Couch was awarded Rookie of the Year and Johnna Barnes was awarded Volunteer of the Year.
The COP is sponsored by Chelsea and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Members receive training and patrol neighborhoods and businesses. Members are uniformed and unarmed. They work directly with law enforcement to report suspicious activities.
“The quality of life and community safety in Chelsea are enhanced as a result of the COP and the efforts of its dedicated members,” the city stated.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 3:30 a.m., officers with the Mobile Police observed a vehicle acting suspiciously in the area of Halls Mill Road and McVay Drive and found that it had been reported stolen a short time earlier.
Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop.
The vehicle stopped in the area of Holcombe Avenue and Government Street where four juvenile male subjects bailed from the vehicle.
Officers detained all subjects, and upon further investigation, discovered the vehicle was stolen from the 2500 block of N. McVay Drive.
Three subjects were arrested and transported to Strickland Youth Center charged with Theft of Property, Attempt to Elude and Possession of Burglary Tools.
The fourth subject was arrested and transported to Strickland Youth Center charged with Theft of Property and Attempt to Elude.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. At least seven structure fires have kept firefighters busy during the past week.
A home in Mobile and another in Fairhope were both destroyed by fire during the past seven days.
A fire destroyed a home on Bay Road in Mobile early Wednesday morning. Firefighters responded to the fire just off Dauphin Island Parkway before 4 am. When firefighters arrived there the home was fully engulfed in flames. A fire official said one person was able to escape through a window. No one was hurt. The cause is under investigation.
Firefighters responding to a woods fire in the northern part of Baldwin County also found a structure on fire. The building and surrounding wood areas had heavy fore showing when they arrived. No one was injured.
Several drivers on County Road 12 South noticed heavy black smoke coming out of the roof of the Big Fish Moving Company located at 18160 CR 12 South. When Foley firefighters arrived, they made entry into the closed business and found heavy fire on the second floor. The fire chief said that they exited the structure for safety reasons and instituted an external attack on the fire. The building was destroyed and no injuries were reported.
The Fairhope Fire Department along with several mutual-aid fire departments responded to a manufactured home fire Sunday morning. The home received heavy fire, and water damage but no injuries were reported there. The fire was one of four on Sunday.
On Friday, March 6th, 2026, the Fort Morgan Fire Department was dispatched to a residence on State Highway 180 for what the resident described as a chimney fire but before the fire department the fire reported entered a wall area. Firefighters brought the fire under control and there were no reports of any injuries during this fire either.
Also on Sunday, March 8th, 2026, the Gulf Shores Fire Department and several mutual-aid departments responded to a commercial fire at 3908 Gulf Shores Parkway. Employees of the business reported smoke in the building. Firefighters believe that it was an electrical situation that caused the burning smell and smoke. No damage to the building was reported.
Less two hours later on the same day, both the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Fire Departments along with Foley Firefighters responded to an apartment fire at 6870 Foley Beach Express.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. An update on the sex sting story in Spanish Fort that we brought to you first on Saturday, Police Chief Barber tells us that six people were arrested in the operation.
The Chief said that the sting occurred on Friday, March 6, 2026, and that charges were for engaging or participating in prostitution in two simultaneous operations that included eight agencies. As seventh person has pending charges. According to police, that person, who has not been publicly identified, was injured while trying to avoid arrest.
As we have previously reported, the police operation was the culmination of a two-day law enforcement training led by Skull Games, a veteran-led nonprofit focused on human trafficking, along with The Little Tree Project, a victim’s advocacy group, and hosted by The Spanish Fort Police Department.
“The training allows us the ability to understand the most current trends, and it helps our officers understand how to target it,” Chief Barber said.
According to a Facebook post by The Little Tree Project, which also led a training with SFPD in October 2025, the group “provided intel support, survivor advocacy and equipped law enforcement leaders with practical tools for trafficking detection and response.” The third day of the training included Friday’s very real operations, taking what the agencies had learned the previous two days and putting it into practice.
Some of the work entailed researching sex ads online and looking for those being forced into the sex trade.
Barber said that he wouldn’t rule out similar operations in the future.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
PENSACOLA, Ala. The Escambia County Florida Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the person who caused a lockdown when he breached the Naval Air Station Pensacola on Monday.
Sheriff Chip Simmons tells us that he’s sure that they have identified that person.
He said that they believe Joseph Edward Valinsky, 38, is the suspect.
NAS Pensacola suddenly closed its gates Monday morning after a person reportedly beached their boat on the base and ran ashore. A large search of the base was conducted by Naval police, base security and local law enforcement, but the man was not found.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff, the man somehow evaded capture on base, ran off base, then evaded capture again after being chased by the sheriff’s office.
“He claimed to have been in a boat that capsized and that’s why he was wandering onto their shores,” Sheriff Simmons said. “He fled from them.”
A short time later, deputies spotted Valinsky walking along Gulf Beach Highway. They noticed he matched the description base security had on their intruder.
“We used our in car camera. We took a still-shot of him, compared that with a still-shot of what they saw on NAS and confirmed it was the same person,” Sheriff Simmons said.
Additionally, deputies say Valinsky had already been wanted in connection to unrelated fleeing and burglary cases.
However, when deputies approached Valinsky, he ran and escaped again.
The sheriff says they believe that Valinsky is homeless. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Congressman Jimmy Patronis was briefed by base Commanding Officer Chandra Newman.
The sheriff says Valinsky does not appear to be a terrorist threat but his act was criminal and authorities will probably charge him accordingly.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. At approximately 9:25 a.m. on Monday, March 9th, 2026, 911 received a call for help along the causeway. The caller said that a person was stuck in an elevator.
Other callers identified that a cable snapped, the elevator car came down and people were injured.
The Spanish Fort fire Department was dispatched to a business located 1385 Battleship Parkway near the Felix Fish Camp.
Spanish Fort Fire Chief Few told me that it was a supply lift that was pulled by a winch cable. The injured party was riding the lift when it failed dropping them to the ground.
The person had head and leg injuries, and a medical helicopter was dispatched to the scene and transported one person to a trauma center.
In these types of accidents when an employee is injured at work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will take over the investigations.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Hyundai is once again investing in Alabama in a big way. $200 million dollars big!
The investment is being made in Montgomery and Hyundai Power Transformers USA announced on Friday that the $200 million expansion of its manufacturing operation that is expected to create 200 new jobs and increase domestic production of large power transformers essential to the nation’s electric grid will further strengthen the success of Alabama.
With this expansion, HD-HPT’s total investment in Montgomery will reach $277 million, supporting 600 jobs since the company first established operations in the Capital Region in 2011, according to the company.
The new facility, scheduled to open in mid-2027, will enable HD-HPT to manufacture even larger transformer units in the United States, further strengthening national infrastructure resilience and energy security.
“When we made the decision in 2011 to locate HD-HPT in Montgomery, we saw a community committed to partnership, workforce excellence, and infrastructure support. The collaboration between state and local leaders, economic development partners, and workforce training organizations made this growth possible — and continues to position us for long-term success. The Montgomery Regional Chamber served as a strong, single point of contact throughout this process, helping us to align resources and accelerate solutions with our local and state partners. We are proud to continue expanding in Montgomery and remain deeply committed to this community’s future.”
“This expansion reflects our long-term confidence in Montgomery and the State of Alabama,” said Jinho Kang, President of HD Hyundai Power Transformers USA.
State leaders again point to the strong labor pool, and the ability to attract major companies to the state.
The company also highlighted the importance of logistics and rail infrastructure in supporting its operations.
“HD-HPT’s expansion in Montgomery strengthens Alabama’s position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and critical infrastructure production,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “By increasing domestic production capacity, this investment enhances supply chain resilience while reinforcing Alabama’s leadership in securing the nation’s energy future.”
Approximately 70% of the nation’s large power transformers are currently in need of replacement.
HD-HPT now supplies more than 15 percent of U.S. large core-type transformers — a significant contribution to strengthening and modernizing the nation’s power grid. As a Homeland Security Essential employer, HD-HPT’s work is directly tied to national infrastructure protection and grid security.
The company also highlighted the importance of logistics and rail infrastructure in supporting its operations.
State leaders emphasized the broader significance of the project for Alabama’s advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure sectors.
HPT credited the coordinated support of the Alabama Department of Commerce, the City of Montgomery, the Montgomery County Commission, the Montgomery Regional Chamber, AIDT, Alabama Technology Network (ATN), BCA, and numerous regional partners for helping launch and grow the company’s operations.
“This expansion positions Montgomery at the center of strengthening America’s energy infrastructure,” said Anna Buckalew, President & CEO of Montgomery Regional Chamber.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GADSDEN, Ala. – Global automotive supplier Minth Group Limited plans to turn a former steelmaking site in Gadsden into its largest-ever campus in a $430 million investment that will create more than 1,300 jobs, the company announced today.
The project is slated for the 400-acre brownfield site that was the previous location of Republic Steel and Gulf States Steel. The new facility will produce high-quality plastic and aluminum components for automakers’ U.S. plants including Hyundai in Montgomery and Kia in West Point, Georgia.
“Alabama is a worldwide leader in automotive innovation, and Minth Group Limited’s plans to build an advanced manufacturing hub in Gadsden is another successful chapter for our state industry,” said Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair.
McNair credited the stellar reputation of the state’s automotive workforce for its continued growth.
“Our automakers and supplier operations are filled with experts who are building high-quality, in-demand products for markets around the world,” McNair said. “Their work continues to draw new additions to our auto industry, where they find supportive partnerships and a true home in communities across the state.”
Taiwan-based Minth, an industry leader in automotive trim and structural components with 78 plants around the globe, said the new Alabama location will help the company better serve its North American customers, including those transitioning to electric and advanced vehicles.
Minth’s U.S. operations are part of Minth North America Inc., with regional headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, and two other locations in Michigan and Tennessee.
The Gadsden site is expected to be a flagship U.S. facility with nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing space. The company plans to renovate and expand the former steel mill, and the new jobs’ average annual wages are expected to top $49,000.
Minth’s investment in Gadsden is expected to create hundreds of jobs initially, with the potential to reach up to 1,325 positions as operations grow, bringing additional economic renewal in a community that has seen departures of major employers such as Goodyear and Gulf States Steel.
“From rubble to renewal, from depression to prosperity – this site, once a reminder of jobs that moved overseas, now represents a bright future,” said William Chin, the son of Minth’s founder and the company’s chief strategy officer. “It’s not rubber and steel anymore; it’s plastic and aluminum. We see tremendous opportunity here to serve the evolving needs of the automotive industry.”
Chin commended the forward-thinking leadership in Gadsden for recognizing the site’s potential.
“I want to especially thank the mayor, our local economic development partners and Gadsden State Community College for seeing the diamond in the rough before we did. Their unwavering belief in their community will make this old steel mill shine again.
“Now, together we will bring it back to life and build something enduring for generations to come,” Chin added.
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said his top priority has been to bring high-paying jobs back to Gadsden. One key goal was filling the former Goodyear plant, and that goal was met with last year’s announcement that Wyoming-based Takkion will use the facility as a storage and handling hub for renewable energy materials, primarily solar panels.
“My remaining focus was finding a quality tenant for the old Republic Steel property, and man, we hit the lottery with Minth,” Ford said. “I didn’t think we could find someone who values the citizens of Gadsden as much as I do, but they’ve exceeded all our expectations.”
“They have tremendous plans for this facility, and I’m thrilled to have them become a part of our community and our future,” he said.
David Hooks, chief executive of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, said Minth’s acquisition of the former steelmaking site marks a transformational moment for the community.
He thanked the Casey family, who for the past 25 years have worked to clean up and redevelop the property into a productive business operation. There are currently five businesses at the site, and those operations will continue.
“The new investment not only impacts the property itself, but will impact the broader economies of Gadsden, Etowah County and all of Northeast Alabama,” Hooks said. “We are honored that Minth Group has chosen Gadsden as the location to expand its North American presence. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and to the long-term economic opportunities this investment will bring to our region.”
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. A motor vehicle collision that occurred in Semmes last week left one man dead and a on-duty Semmes police officer injured.
ALEA has identified Mason W. Cure, 33, of Chunchula as the driver killed in Wednesday’s crash. According to ALEA, Cure was not wearing a seat belt when his Toyota Tacoma and the officer’s Ford Explorer collided. Cure was pronounced dead at the scene.
However, ALEA has not identified who the Semmes police officer was, nor the extent of his injuries or announced who ALEA has determined to be at fault.
So, here’s what we know so far:
From my own experience in law enforcement and the fire service, I know that in traffic fatalities, law enforcement spends a significant amount of time investigating the fatality.
I have reviewed the crash with a recently retired state law enforcement officer and we both reached the same conclusion. No one is hiding any information and that a methodical investigation is always conducted in fatal traffic collisions regardless of who was involved.
Protocols mandate that a surviving driver have a blood draw done at a hospital to determine if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. With knowing this procedure, we believe that the Semmes police officer underwent the same process.
It’s also standard procedure to have accident investigators recreate the scene using hi-tech equipment which involves a systematic, multi-step process designed to identify root causes and prevent future incidents. Modern investigations leverage 3D scanning, drones, and high-fidelity video to capture, document, and analyze evidence from the accident scene. With the advancement of AI, recreations of the collision, estimation of speed of all vehicles, analyzing of skid marks, contact points and interviewing witnesses takes weeks, not hours or days.
If law enforcement determines that a driver is responsible, they’ll often review the evidence with their district attorney and sometimes submit the case to a grand jury to determine probable cause for an indictment.
Additionally, because a law enforcement was involved and injured, extra steps are taken to ensure privacy and security of the officer and their family so that the public doesn’t race to judgment.
Therefore, we know that information about this fatal traffic collision may not be released for a few more days or it may be a week or more.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is in charge of this investigation and undoubtedly will follow their protocols as specified by law.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, Ala. The building was surrounded by law enforcement. Police officers pointing guns and other emergency vehicles were pulling up to a mass shooting at a business, or a school or even the courthouse.
Police know at least a dozen or more people have been shot and some are possibly dead while others are being held at gunpoint.
Emergencies like this happen frequently and that’s why Mobile law enforcement and first responders conducted a drill in mobile County Saturday to brush up on their skills.
SWAT teams entered the Emergency Operations Center for what officials called their annual “Chaos Bootcamp.” When the drill was done, participants sat down to critique the response and what they did well and what needs more work.
Law enforcement agencies, the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, Mobile County EMS, and volunteer fire departments were among more than a dozen agencies holding the hands-on training exercise
The scene looked real, but authorities hope that’s far as it gets but if something does occur, they’re confident that they’ll be able to respond swiftly and put their training to use.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested a Florida man after investigators say that he posted nude pictures of victims on TikTok and publicly shared the address of one of his victims.
Investigators were contacted by a victim, and 45-year-old Joshua Smith was arrested on Thursday.
Investigators say that there are multiple victims in Alabama and out of state.
“He will meet these people on TikTok, become friends, and they’ll join a messaging group of his,” said Sgt. Lonnie Parsons. “Eventually something happens that sends him into a rage. He’ll create a TikTok live video — and that’s where he perpetrates his crime.”
Smith was first arrested on January 15th on two counts of distributing a private image and later bonded out of jail. On Thursday, deputies arrested him again on additional charges of posting nude images of two other people — a man and a woman — during a TikTok livestream. He is also charged with doxing a victim, which involves publicly sharing someone’s personal information online.
“It’s becoming dangerous,” said Parsons. “Now we have Mr. Smith, who thinks that putting his victim’s address on live is something that he thinks he should do, and he’s dead wrong.”
“On Sunday morning, he does church on TikTok where he acts like a preacher, but it’s like the weirdest church. If you were to watch it, it would be like mind blowing, part of its Christian, and the other part of it is harassing and dragging people. It’s really weird,” said one of his victims.
It’s not the first time that Smith has been accused of a crime. Smith is facing a cyber harassment charge in Okaloosa County, Florida, and violating a stalking injunction.
Smith remains in Mobile County Metro Jail.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE Ala. Officers with the Fairhope Police Department made five alcohol-related arrests on the first day of the month and responded to several other incidents that also ended with arrests.
The Following Persons Face Various Criminal Charges:
Antonio T Bracy was arrested at on March 1, 2026, at 1:57 a.m. at Magnolia Ave / N. Bancroft St for DUI.
Joshua Kane Obryan was arrested on March 1, 2026, at 2:47 a.m. in the 20000 block of U S HWY 98 for DUI.
Heriberto Leal-Suc was arrested on March 1st, 2026, on Greeno Road at 2:52 a.m. for DUI.
Police also arrested Justin Cole Blackwell on March 1, 2026, at 8:18 p.m. for being intoxicated in public in the 50 block of Greeno road.
Officers also arrested James Derrell Hobbs on March 1, 2026, for being intoxicated in public in the 10,000 block of Greeno Road.
Shannon M Moore was also arrested on March 1st, 2026, at 11:35 p.m. and charged with Possession of Marijuana in the Second Degree.
On March 2nd, 2026, Fairhope police charged Alexandria Maria Cordova with Obstructing Government Operations at around 9:45 p.m. in the 100 block of N Section Street.
During a traffic stop on March 2nd, 2026, at approximately 8:23 p.m., officers charged John Terry Portemont with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol on county Road 44.
Police were also called to the 600 block of Westchase Court South where they made an arrest for burglary on March 3rd, 2026, at approximately 6:24 a.m. Lauren L. Varela was charged with Burglary Third Degree
Blake Levi Sherman was arrested by Fairhope police on March 7th, 2026, at 9:04 a.m. in the 10,000 block of Highway 98 for Possession of marijuana 2nd Degree.
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. A Sunday morning fire in Fairhope has caused heavy damage to a home and uncertainty for its occupants.
The Baldwin County 911 Communications Center received several calls reporting a structure fire at 20601 Thelma Ganey Lane at around 8:47 a.m.
The Fairhope and Daphne Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene and firefighters observed heavy smoke coming from the manufactured home upon arrival.
Additional mutual-aid fire departments were also dispatched for manpower and to assist in water supply due to no fire hydrants in the area.
At this time, no injuries have been reported.
Firefighters believe that the fire may have started in the kitchen.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
LOXLEY, Ala. Officers on patrol observed a traffic violation and attempted to pull the driver over. Even though the police had activated his emergency equipment, (blue lights and sirens), the driver, later identified as CHRISTIAN LILES DENTON, refused to stop and led police on a pursuit.
Loxley officers were able to stop the vehicle and detained Denton. A probable cause search of the vehicle and the driver turned up drugs, which may have been the reason that he fled law enforcement.
Denton has been charged with:
Cocaine Possession
Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense
Resisting Arrest
Obstructing Police- Attempting to Elude Police
Driving Under the Influence (Controlled Substances)
Denton has since been released on bond from the Baldwin County Detention Center, pending a court appearance.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Blue RAM Media was the first to report the plane crash on Saturday evening and have maintained contact with local authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard.
By Rick McCann Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
March 8, 2026
BON SECOUR, Ala.
UPDATE: The U.S. Coast Guard released more information on the deadly plane crash that occurred Saturday night.
After both the Pensacola and Gulf Shores airports control towers monitored a small aircraft slowing down and then disappearing from radar, the towers contacted local authorities to report a possible downed plane in Oyster Bay or in the Bon Secour area just before 7 p.m.
The towers reported that the plane was a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft.
The U.S. Coast Guard, local fire departments and area police were notified and began a search of the area.
Multiple agencies were soon dispatched to the area including the city of Orange Beach, the city of Gulf Shores, Daphne Search and Rescue, and Marine Police, began their search by air, land, and water.
The downed plane was located, and two bodies have been recovered.
Officials do not know how many people were on the flight.
At this time the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will be conducting an investigation.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. A sex trafficking sting on Friday in Baldwin County has netted multiple arrests.
The sting culminated a multi-agency training session and was set up at a local hotel in Spanish Fort.
This operation was similar to one conducted in Daphne on January 2nd, 2026, where ten persons were arrested at a motel by a multi-law enforcement team after completing a specialized training course.
Police has now released the details of the operation, but Police Chief Barber told us that further details will be forthcoming on Monday.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. The ground is dry in Alabama. Trees, leaves, brushland and forests are thirsty for rain but there has been little of it in recent months. From the south of the state to the north and all points in between, fires continue to burn and burn quickly because of the dryness of the land. Humans are the blame for most of them.
Forestry experts say Alabama’s dry conditions and the lack of rain are the primary threats for wildfires right now. Most of the fires that the Alabama Forestry crews are responding to are accidental fires. “I was driving down the road, the chain fell off of the trailer, and it threw a spark, that started a fire,” said Balsie Butler with the Alabama Forestry Commission. “A lot of people are flicking cigarettes out the window when they’re done.”
And there’s those who are burning waste and debris, burning off tracts of their land and contractors with burn permits who are clearing land and burning trees and construction debris that get of hand when the winds pick up or the fire burns more than it was supposed to. These are dangerous fires that burn out of control can easily start structure fires and leave people homeless.
Butler is urging caution because simple mistakes can make big problems for first responders.
“In the last 30 days, we’ve seen an explosion in these numbers, to the term of a 288% increase when you talk about the numbers of fires that we’ve responded to,” said Butler.
In 30 days, Butler said that Alabama has had 333 fires that have consumed more than 6,000 acres.
Locally in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, firefighters are being dispatched daily to outdoor fires that have gotten out of hand and move quickly. The state forestry team and area fire departments have teamed up to stop these fires at least six times during the past month and at least two structures have been destroyed.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
PRATTVILLE Ala. Police were fired upon when they went to arrest a man wanted in Huntsville for child sex charges shot at deputies with a rifle according to Sheriff Mark Harrell
Police were on the lookout for Taylor Cox and law enforcement from Autauga and Dallas counties, were told that he might be in the area Harrell said. Cox faces two counts of possession of child pornography, he said.
Several deputies went to a home on County Road 165 at around midnight where they suspected that he might be.
“Our two deputies did a drive by to check and see if he was there, and they spotted him on the porch,” the sheriff said. “He was armed with a rifle standing on the porch. The deputies recognized him and pulled into the yard, and that’s when he fired four or fire rounds at them from the rifle.
“When the deputies got out to engage him, he gave up.
The sheriff said that no one was hit and no patrol vehicles received any damage.
After the shooting, Cox now faces two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, Harrell said. He is being held without bond, records show. He could not be reached for comment and court records show he doesn’t have an attorney.
“Our deputies did an excellent job,” Harrell said. “It could have been a very bad situation. No sheriff wants to get a call just after midnight that shots were fired at deputies. But they handled things well and I’m glad one was hurt.”
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