Summer Burn Ban Begins This Weekend For Decatur, DeKalb

DECATUR, GA — Starting on Saturday, Decatur and Avondale Estates will begin their annual summer burn ban. That means burning almost anything outside — including limbs, leaves and other yard debris — will be illegal.

DeKalb County will be one of 54 Georgia counties to ban almost all outdoor fires through Sept. 30. Most of the counties covered by the Georgia burn ban are in and around metro Atlanta.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division does allow some outdoor fires, including barbecues and campfires for recreational purposes.

Summer burns are banned for the same reason Atlanta vehicles have emission tests — they contribute to ozone in the air, which the EPD says can reach "unhealthy levels" when it's warm.

The ban will continue until Sept. 30 unless weather and drought conditions this fall dictate otherwise. And remember, there's already a year-round ban on burning household garbage outdoors. Break the law, and you may face a hefty fine.

For a complete list of what you can burn and where you can burn it, visit the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's website.

Patch Editor Jim Massara contributed to this article.