Wreck near Health Center South complex
Dothan Rescue was dispatched to a wreck at the 2800 block of Ross Clark Circle, near the Health Center South complex.
Initial reports indicate one patient involved in the crash is 34 weeks pregnant.
Wreck at Flowers Chapel and West Main
Dothan Rescue was dispatched to a wreck at Flowers Chapel Road and West Main Street.
Early reports indicated two vehicles involved. Units originally reported smoke coming from a vehicle, but no smoke is visible at this time.
Update: Fire on Bethlehem Road
Dothan Fire was dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the 1900 block of Bethlehem Road in Dothan (but in Dale County).
Early reports indicated flames were visible, and residents had evacuated.
On-scene units reported seeing flames from a field behind a residence.
On-scene units are reporting at least another structure involved with flames and hay bales have caught fire.
According to reports, someone had a bonfire last night but didn’t put it out completely, leading the embers to rekindle and start a woods fire.
Multiple Dothan Fire engines and Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams are on scene.
Alabama Forestry also responded to the fire.
Dothan Fire units went back into service around 4:30 p.m.
West Main to close nights of Jan. 1, Jan. 2
On Wednesday, January 1st and Thursday January 2nd at 7:00 PM, West Main Street will be closed from the intersection of Alice Street to the intersection of Oates Street for utility work.
Additionally, the southbound lane of Oates Street will be shifted by flashing arrow boards and cones. Eastbound traffic along West Main Street will be detoured to Alice Street, and westbound traffic along East Main Street will be detoured to Oates Street.
This work will last through the night and the road closure will be removed before 6:00 AM each day.
All commercial truck traffic should utilize Ross Clark Circle.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes, expect delays, and exercise caution if traveling in this area.
Severe wreck at Montgomery Highway and Westgate Parkway
Dothan Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a wreck at Westgate Parkway and Montgomery Highway.
Early reports indicated at least three vehicles were involved in the wreck. On-scene units reported moderate damage from two vehicles.
Injuries are currently unknown. Traffic is backing up in the southbound lane of Montgomery Highway, and the northbound lane is being detoured.
Photo from ALGO Traffic.
Bird flu: infected wild birds found in nearby counties
H5N1, commonly known as bid flu, has been detected in wild birds in surrounding counties, but detections in poultry are limited mostly to north Alabama.
Wild Birds
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Jackson County has detected two wild infected birds, and Okaloosa County has detected one infected bird.
The majority of Florida counties have seen infections; the northwestern part of the state has not shown as many infections as the peninsula. Eastern Brevard County and Orange County are the most affected, respectively detecting 380 and 51 infections in wild birds.
In Georgia, Seminole County reports 11 detections of infection in wild birds.
Barbour County is currently the closest Alabama county showing wild bird infections, with nine cases detected.
Poultry Flocks
When it comes to poultry flocks, cases are not yet widespread in the south.
Alabama has not seen many commercial and backyard flock infections; the state reports six flocks being infected, Chilton, Pickens, Cullman, Etowah, Marshall and Lawrence Counties each report one flock being infected. All six flocks total just under 471,000 sick birds.
Georgia and Florida do not report any nearby flock infections.
Human Cases
A case of bird flu in a human in Louisiana led the CDC to believe the disease has mutated to be more transmissible. The patient was likely infected after having contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. The agency said the mutations it identified in samples taken during the patient’s hospitalization weren’t found in the birds, suggesting they aren’t in the virus widely circulating in wildlife.
The CDC stands by the idea the risk to the public is low.
Still, there have been 65 confirmed human cases of H5N1 in 2024; 39 cases were associated with dairy herds, 23 came from poultry farms, and the remaining 2 cases are unclear when it comes to the source. The severe case in Louisiana is the only one associated with a backyard flock.