GFC IMPLEMENTS RESTRICTIONS FOR BURNING NATURAL DEBRIS

Summer air quality precautions are back in place for north Georgians. From May 1 - September 30, the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) restricts residents in 54 counties from burning yard and land-clearing debris because of smoke that may affect ozone levels in urban areas.

Residents are restricted in the following counties: Banks County, Barrow County, Bartow County, Bibb County, Butts County, Carroll County, Catoosa County, Chattooga County, Cherokee County, Clarke County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Columbia County, Coweta County, Crawford County, Dawson County, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Fayette County, Floyd County, Forsyth County, Fulton County, Gordon County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Haralson County, Heard County, Henry County, Houston County, Jackson County, Jasper County, Jones County, Lamar County, Lumpkin County, Madison County, Meriwether County, Monroe County, Morgan County, Newton County, Oconee County, Paulding County, Peach County, Pickens County, Pike County, Polk County, Putnam County, Richmond County, Rockdale County, Spalding County, Troup County, Twiggs County, Upson County, Walker County, and Walton County.

Outside of those counties, prescribed burning and some outdoor burning are still permitted during suitable weather conditions. Extra caution is urged for landowners in areas still littered with debris from Hurricane Helene because of the additional time and equipment still necessary for clean up.