Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Update
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Outdoor Burning Ban Notice
The summer ban on outdoor burning in 54 northern Georgia counties was lifted on October 1, 2022. The annual restrictions are imposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division from May 1 through the end of September to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground level ozone during the hot summer months.
GFC is closely monitoring increased wildfire risk across the state, and is warning that ongoing dry and windy conditions are not suitable for outdoor burning. By law, specific safety precautions by burners are mandated, and penalties apply for escaped debris burning that causes wildfire. Find out more at GaTrees.org/burn-permits-and-notifications/.
The 54 counties whose burn bans were lifted October 1 are: 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.
GFC Receives National Award
The GFC recently received the National Woodland Owners Association award for Outstanding Forestry Legislation of 2022. The honor recognized GFC’s part in developing HB897, which created the Timber Harvest Notification system, with substantial input and support from ACCG. Current participation shows:
Counties: 71
Harvest companies: 116
Harvests reported: 600
Harvests reported as complete: 189
Top 3 counties by harvests reported: Emanuel, Pierce & Oglethorpe
To sign up, go to https://gatrees.org/forest-management-conservation/timber-harvest-notifications/ and select Local Governing Authority Access Request.
