Outdoor burn ban now in effect

May 3, 2021–6:49 p.m.

GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION

The annual ban on outdoor burning I now underway in 54 Georgia counties, primarily in the northern half of the state.

Affected residents are asked to refrain from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the hot summer months because smoke can negatively impact the state’s air quality by contributing to high ozone levels.

These conditions have been linked to lung and heart disease in humans.

Bartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, and Polk Counties are all included in the burn ban area.

While campfires and barbecues are exempt from the burn ban, the risk of wildfire in Georgia is always a concern. An increase in the number of wildfires has been recorded in March and April, with 860 wildfires burning almost 5,500 acres across the state.

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