GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 26, 2007) - The dry forest conditions and increased fire danger resulting from a lack of significant rainfall in north Georgia has led the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) to issue a campfire ban in undeveloped camping areas on a number of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), effective immediately.

The current WMAs and north Georgia areas affected by the campfire ban include: Allatoona, Allen Creek, Berry College, Blue Ridge, Carters Lake, Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Cohutta, Cooper’s Creek, Coosawattee, Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, Dawson Forest, Don Carter, Hart County, JL Lester, Johns Mountain, Lake Burton, Lake Russell, McGraw Ford, Otting, Paulding Forest, Pinelog, Rich Mountain, Sheffield, Swallow Creek, Warwoman, Wilson Shoals and Zahnd.

Because a number of wildfires have already developed across the state, including the devastating fires in south Georgia, and because the weather forecasts indicate no relief from the drought-like conditions in north Georgia over the next several days, the risk of wildfires continues to increase.

While no campfires will be allowed in the aforementioned areas, cook stoves and lanterns will still be permitted. Campfires are currently still allowed in most developed camping areas (i.e. designated camping areas with set metal fire rings) but are restricted on ALL campgrounds on US Army Corps of Engineers property. WRD urges campers in developed camping areas to take extreme caution while monitoring campfires.

All campers should adhere to the following safety tips when monitoring campfires in developed camping areas:

· Clear a five-foot area around the fire ring down to the soil.

· Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near by.

· Stack extra wood upwind and away from the fire.

· After lighting, do NOT discard the match until it is cold.

· Never leave a campfire unattended — not even for a minute.

· Flammable fuels should never be used to ignite fires and should never be stored near fire.

· Do NOT use lanterns or cook stoves inside tents.

For more information regarding the campfire bans or to learn more about camping opportunities across north Georgia, contact the WRD Region I Game Management office (Northwest Georgia) at (706) 295-6041 or the WRD Region II Game Management office (Northeast Georgia) at (770) 535-5700 or visit www.georgiawildlife.com.
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