Barrow County has become one of the latest counties in Georgia to issue a ban on outdoor burning because of the dry conditions plaguing all of the state.
“Dry conditions significantly increase the risk of fire spread,” the office posted on social media Wednesday. “Even small, controlled burns can quickly become dangerous and uncontrollable in this environment.
“We urge all residents to take this ban seriously and help protect our community, first responders, and natural resources.
The Gainesville Fire Department stop issuing burn permits TFN a few days ago.
Colquitt County in deep south Georgia, an area where the drought is even worse, has already taken such action.
And in its latest advisory, issued early Thursday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) says the prospects for any significant rainfall are still zero. “A cold front will bring showers and possibly storms to parts of (north and central Georgia), but rainfall is unlikely to exceed around a quarter inch. As a result, drought conditions will worsen over the next 7 days given the lack of appreciable rainfall.”