-
Flying embers can spread fires far and wide. Georgia’s annual burning ban went into effect on Thursday, May 1st and will continue through Tuesday, September 30th 2014.
The ban was issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Counties in the Burn Ban
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.
During the ban, residents all around Lake Lanier will be unable to burn leaves, tree limbs, forest land or use air curtain destructors for land clearing. Recreational fires will still be permitted.
The Georgia EPD imposes a ban on outdoor burning to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations. During the summer months in Georgia, the ozone in the air we breathe can reach unhealthy levels. The Georgia EPD has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Consequently, open burning in metro Atlanta and larger counties must be restricted during the summer months.
For more information, please contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at 404-363-7000.
Click Here for the Georgia Forestry Commission
