On Might 1, an outside burn ban will start in 54 Georgia counties, primarily within the northern half of the state. Affected residents are requested to chorus from burning yard and land clearing particles, whose smoke can negatively influence the state’s air high quality in the course of the sizzling summer time months by contributing to excessive ozone ranges. These situations have been linked to lung and coronary heart illness in people.
“These restrictions are required by the state Environmental Safety Division so much less particulate matter is launched into the air,” mentioned Georgia Forestry Fee Safety Chief Frank Sorrells. “The danger of wildfire can be excessive presently, and the Georgia Forestry Fee shall be intently monitoring fireplace exercise to maintain Georgians and their property protected.”
The burn ban shall be in impact from Might 1-Sept. 30, 2022. 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, Corridor, 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.
Residents in Georgia counties not included within the annual burn ban will proceed to be required to comply with particular fireplace security pointers and any native ordinances governing particles burning. The 5 security precautions now mandated by legislation embody set spacing between fires and woodlands and constructions, burn instances from dawn to sundown, burner attendance on the fireplace, and affordable precautions comparable to climate consciousness and suppression instruments. Full particulars together with video sources will be discovered at GaTrees.org/burn-permits-and-notifications/.
“People are the primary reason behind wildfires in Georgia,” mentioned Georgia Forestry Fee Director Tim Lowrimore. “As outside recreation season begins, we have to decrease the danger of wildfire by paying shut consideration to climate situations and security precautions. Everybody must work collectively to make sure an pleasing and fire-free summer time.”
For extra details about annual summer time burn restrictions, burn permits, and providers of the Georgia Forestry Fee, go to GaTrees.org.