Summer air quality precautions are going back in place for north Georgians. From May 1 through September 30, the Environmental Protection Division restricts residents in 54 counties from burning yard and land clearing debris because smoke may affect ozone levels in urban areas.
The 54 Georgia counties affected are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker, and Walton. Outside of the 54 counties with restrictions, prescribed burning and some outdoor burning are still permitted when weather conditions are suitable.
Landowners in Georgia counties not included in the annual burn restrictions will be required to continue to follow specific fire safety guidelines and any local ordinances governing debris burning. The five safety precautions now mandated by law include set spacing between fires and woodlands and structures, burn times from sunrise to sunset, burner attendance at the fire, and reasonable precautions such as weather awareness and suppression tools.
“The number of wildfires in Georgia has been elevated this spring,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “As summer outdoor recreation season begins, all Georgians can play a role in lowering the risk of wildfire by paying close attention to weather conditions and safety precautions.”
For more information about annual summer burn restrictions, burn permits, and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.
