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Statewide burn ban goes into effect Monday, May 1, continues through the summer

Posted 8:30AM on Saturday 29th April 2017 ( 6 years ago )
Beginning Monday, May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burn ban will prohibit 54 counties from burning yard and land-clearing debris through September 30.
 
"The majority of those counties where the ban is in effect are in the northern half of the state," said Director of Public Relations for the Georgia Forestry Commission , Wendy Burnett.
 
The following counties are under 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 hot summer months, ground level o-zone increases which can negatively impact air quality and people's health. Burning yard and and land-clearing debris may produce smoke and particulate matter that are linked to heart and lung diseases in humans," said Burnett.
 
Citizens and businesses are prohibited from burning yard and land-clearing debris, as well as household garbage, which is never allowed to be burned anywhere in Georgia.
 
However, the burn ban does not include recreation fires.
 
"Your campfires and fire pits to toast s'mores and things of that nature are not covered by the ban, unless there is a local ordinance in place. So, just check with your local government before starting any outdoor fire," said Burnett.
 
According to Chief of the Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch Karen Hayes, May through September is a time of year when people, particularly children, are more likely to be outdoors.
 
“We can’t control the weather,” said Hayes.
 
"But limiting open burning during these hot summer months when ground-level ozone is so readily formed is one of the easiest ways to help Georgia’s air quality continue to improve.”
In addition to the EPD Open Burning Ban, some counties or cities may have other burning restrictions enacted in response to local needs, drought and fire dangers.
 
More information on the open burn ban can be found online through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division or by calling the EPD Northeast Georgia District Office at 706-369-6376. 

http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/4/530229/statewide-burn-ban-goes-into-effect-monday-may-1-continues-through-the-summer

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