The Georgia Forestry Commission has made it easier to get permission for outdoor burning activities with its toll free line, 1-877-OK2-BURN. With one call, homeowners can automatically find out if conditions are appropriate for burning fires measuring less than 6’ x 6’. The caller’s zip code, telephone number, and the call’s date and time stamp serve as a burn permit for both the caller and the GFC.

“If everyone makes sure conditions are right for burning before setting a fire, the number of wildfires in Georgia can be reduced,” said Alan Dozier, Chief of Forest Protection with the Georgia Forestry Commission. The major cause of wildfire is debris burning that gets out of control, Dozier said, and last year 8,250 wildfires burned 32,419 acres in Georgia. “The lingering drought has created conditions in some areas that could make burning risky, so proper site preparation and emergency planning are absolutely critical.”

Dozier reminds homeowners that only yard debris should be burned. The burning of paper, household trash, plastics, or other man-made materials is prohibited and invalidates the permit. Fires are required to be extinguished by dusk and the permit holder must take adequate precautions to prevent flames from escaping. The automated system applies only to fires being burned outside city limits. Inside city limits, homeowners are required to call their local fire department for permission to burn. Landowners seeking permission to burn forest lands, agricultural space, or debris piles larger than 6’ x 6’ should continue to call their local GFC County Unit.

“Fire Prevention Week will be observed October 8-14 this year,” said Dozier. “It’s the perfect time to review procedures regarding fire safety because the May-September burn ban that covers about a third of Georgia has just been lifted. A lot of people have debris that’s ready to be disposed of, but doing it safely is crucial.”
For more information about safe burning, burn permits and prescribed burning, visit www.gatrees.org.

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