Drought Extends Burn Bans in Five Metro Atlanta Counties

CUMMING, GA — Drought conditions have led state forestry officials to extend Georgia's annual ban on outdoor burning for five metro Atlanta counties.

The burn ban, which typically runs from May 1 through the end of September in 54 Georgia counties, has been extended in Clayton, Fayette, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Hall counties.

All outdoor burning, including leaves, trash, yard debris and storm damage is prohibited under the ban, which impacts some other outlying Georgia counties as well.

"The GFC will be managing burn permitting on a day to day and county by county basis," said Georgia Forestry Commission chief of protection Frank Sorrells. "We recognize the importance of and promote prescribed burning for the many forest management benefits it provides, and ask for patience if burning is restricted in your area."

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division sets the annual May-September burning ban in an effort to limit the amount of unhealthy ozone in the air. Those levels can get dangerously high in the hot summer months.

This year, the lack of rain has left about half of Georgia in moderate to severe drought, which increases the potential for wildfires to burn out of control. Forsyth County officials said in a news release that forecast models show no significant moisture coming to help the situation in the near future.

In September, the Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 1 drought response in 53 counties. That means local water utilities were required to begin campaigns making people aware of the drought and encouraging water conservation.

According to a news release at that time, about two-thirds of Georgia is experiencing some level of drought impact and the 53 impacted counties are experiencing "severe and extreme drought conditions."

"North Georgia has had a hot, dry summer and the fall season is historically a dry time of the year," said state climatologist Bill Murphey in the release. "Current drought conditions are likely to continue through the fall season, although tropical activity and rain-producing systems can provide beneficial rainfall."

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