As a large wildfire burns in Rabun County and several other brush fires have burned across Northeast Georgia amid Red Flag Warning conditions, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service is now issuing a campfire ban for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
The ban is effective immediately and will stay in place until further notice, as dry and windy conditions continue to create ripe conditions for fire spread.
"This is a Stage II fire restriction, which means that all campfires, including charcoal-based fires, and any other open flames are prohibited across all four Ranger Districts on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest," Thursday afternoon's release by the Forest Service said. "Visitors may continue using commercially available fuel stoves designed for cooking. Fireworks are always prohibited in national forests, regardless of weather conditions."
The ban comes as the Big Ridge Fire just east of Clayton has spread to cover more than 800 acres of land and several brush fires have been reported across the region, including one that caused a death in Lumpkin County on Wednesday.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity involving fire in the forest is asked to contact the Georgia Forestry Commission's Arson Hotline at 1-800-428-7337.
