Summer Open Burning Ban starts today

From the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency

Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties. The ban, which has been in place every summer since 2005, affects many of the counties in north and central Georgia (a local county list is shown below).

The burn ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the summer ozone season, which runs from May 1 through September 30. This is in addition to the year-round, statewide prohibition against burning household garbage in Georgia.  Recreational activities such as campfires and grilling are exempt from the open burning ban. 

According to James Boylan, Chief of the EPD Air Protection Branch, “Smoke from open burning includes small particles and gaseous air pollutants that can form ground-level ozone.  Particulate pollution can cause chronic heart diseases and ground-level ozone can cause inflammation of the lungs, especially in children and people with asthma.”  When open burning creates smoky conditions, reducing exposure is important for everyone’s health.  Things you can do to reduce your exposure to smoke are listed at https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/protect-yourself-from-ash-factsheet.pdf.

Citizens can access more information on the open burning ban by visiting https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia, or by calling the EPD District Office serving their area.

Counties locally included in the ban and contact information for the corresponding EPD District Office follows:

Mountain District Office (Atlanta): 404-362-2671 … Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Rockdale, and Spalding counties.

Some Exceptions to the Burn Ban include:

• Agricultural burning exemption
• Forestry “prescribed burning” exemption*
• Campfires or barbeques
• Fire-fighting training exemption, provided appropriate permit is issued
• Operation of open flame equipment exemption
• Explosive disposal in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor Safety Regulations

Open Burning After the Burn Ban Ends

For citizens seeking to burn hand-piled, natural vegetation collected onsite (e.g., yard debris and leaf piles) after the EPD open burning ban concludes, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) no longer requires permits for this activity. Instead, the following five safety precautions are required:

Burn location must be no less than 25 feet from any woodlands, forestland or field that contains brush, grass, or other flammable material.

Burn location must be no less than 50 feet from structures, which includes homes, outbuildings, sheds, and barns.

Burning must take place between sunrise and sunset.

Person responsible must attend burning at all times until the fire is completely extinguished and there is no risk for burning to escape control.

Person responsible must take reasonable and necessary precautions to prevent fire escape or spread from the original location.

GFC Permits for any other types of burning (e.g., silviculture, agriculture, and land-clearing) should be obtained by contacting your county GFC office.  You can find your county GFC office here: https://gatrees.org/about/county-contacts/.