Burn ban extended across all of Fayette

Tue, 11/20/2007 - 5:25pm
By: John Munford

Fayette County is temporarily discontinuing the issuance of outdoor burning permits in unincorporated areas because of the severe drought and the additional leaves that add to fire hazards, among other problems.

Tyrone, Brooks and Woolsey are also affected by the ban as they are directly served by the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Fayetteville has banned all outdoor burning for more than a month due to the drought, and Peachtree City also has a day-to-day outdoor burning ban that will be lifted when drought conditions lessen significantly, officials said.

There are alternative methods of disposing of vegetative debris such as composting and mulching, officials said. Also, the Fayette County Transfer Station on First Manassas Mile Road allows homeowners to drop off their yard debris, which is ground into mulch that’s recycled and given free to the community, noted Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bartlett.

By not having to respond to debris fires that get out of control, the county is hoping to conserve water, officials said.

The ban was lifted Oct. 1 to allow residents to burn accumulated vegetative debris; that ban is in place over the summer months to protect air quality in the metro Atlanta region.

Homeowners interested in composting can get tips from the Fayette County Extension Office by calling 770-460-5730, ext. 5412.

Residents can watch the county’s website to find out when it will be okay to seek burn permits again, said Interim Director of Public Safety Allen McCullough.

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