Recent incidents across Northeast Georgia serve as sobering reminders of the dangers of outdoor burning, especially in these hazardous fire weather conditions.
Local fire departments and emergency services are keeping busy, responding to what officials say are preventable fires. Stephens County deputies and firefighters have responded to approximately 30 fire-related service calls in the past two weeks. Authorities arrested one person for illegal burning.
Over the weekend, a wildfire ignited in Rabun County. The Big Ridge Fire northeast of Clayton has burned over 480 acres, fueled by the dry, windy weather.
In White County, firefighters have responded to at least three significant woods fires this week, and in Hall County, a woods fire and two residential fires sparked by fire pits destroyed three homes.
These incidents, spanning multiple counties, underscore how quickly things can spiral out of control. Seemingly innocuous fires, compounded by hazardous weather, negligence, and a lack of proper safety practices, can become dangerous, even criminal.
Fire weather
Between March 12 and March 26, the National Weather Service issued multiple increased fire danger warnings for North and Central Georgia. The region has been under a Red Flag Warning at least four times in the past two weeks.
The Georgia Forestry Commission has also issued burn restrictions for most days since March 13 due to the weather.
Stephens County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Rebekah Smith urges the public to remain mindful of the severe fire weather conditions and potential threats.
“Simply tossing a burnt cigarette out of your car window while driving could spark a major grass fire and endanger someone’s life or property,” Smith warns.
Proper precautions
Hall County public safety officials echo Smith’s warning, saying fires that destroyed two mobile homes and a single-story residence were avoidable.
“All three incidents were deemed ‘accidental’ and involved a fire pit that was not fully extinguished,” says Hall County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Kimberlie Ledsinger. She adds, “The fires could have been prevented with proper precautions.” Such precautions include:
- Never leave a fire unattended;
- Keep a water source nearby;
- Use non-combustible materials around the pit;
- Avoid using fire pits on windy days;
- Ensure all coals are completely cool before leaving;
- Place fire pits at least 25 feet from structures or anything flammable.
Precautions are also being encouraged in White County, where firefighters traced an out-of-control fire to a burn pile. They say the homeowner left the pile unattended for two days, thinking it was out. The March 26 fire, southeast of Cleveland, burned approximately 3.6 acres before local firefighters and Georgia Forestry personnel contained it.
“White County Fire urges all residents to carefully inspect any recent burn piles and confirm they are fully extinguished,” urges the county’s public information officer Bryce Barrett. “With current hazardous fire conditions, even a dormant pile can quickly reignite and spread.”
To find out if a burn restriction is in place where you are, call the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-877-OK2-BURN (652-2876) or visit their burns and notifications page online.
