By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Last week's rain may have come just in time for homeowners wanting to burn leaves and other yard debris.

“We were very concerned about the dry weather,” said Capt. Pete Nelms, public information officer for the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. “We were going to work on making a determination about whether we should delay the start of burning permits,” he added.

For environmental and safety reasons, outside burning is not permitted in the Atlanta area from June through September.

“At this time, it looks like residents will be able to burn [as usual] starting Oct. 1,” Nelms said.

If things change, though, the fire department always has the right to deny permits, he said.

Fayette has a burn permit phone line for residential permits at 770-460-5730, extension 468. Developers and contractors burning large amounts of debris must get a commercial permit at 770-461-1321, extension 414.

If conditions aren't right for outdoor burning, callers to the residential permit line will hear a recording to that effect. If conditions are fine, they can use their touchtone phones to get a permit over the phone.

“Please follow the guidelines on the recording for safe outdoor burning practices,” Nelms said.

Permit holders frequently violate the rules by burning after dark, he said. If a fire is not fully extinguished by dark, firefighters have to go out and put out that fire, taking them away from emergency duty, he said.

“The fire department reserves the right to extinguish any fire for any reason,” he added.

The burn permit line is good only for unincorporated areas of the county, plus Tyrone, Brooks and Woolsey. Reisdents of Peachtree City and Fayetteville must contact their own fire departments for permits.

Fayetteville doesn't require permits, said Fire Chief Allan Jones, “but we do ask them to give us a call and let us know where they are and what they'll be doing in case there are calls.

“That gives us a chance to give them the guidelines,” he added. Commercial burning in Fayetteville does require a permit. Phone 770-461-4548.

Peachtree City residents should call 770-631-2588, extension 555, to get permits for outdoor burning.

A two-minute recording will explain the rules for burning and inform callers if weather conditions don't permit burning on that day.