(GEORGIA NEWS NETWORK)
Residents in Gilmer and Pickens counties are concerned about heavy smoke in those areas, but local officials assure the public that there is no need to worry.
The smoke, they say, is a result of a 7,500-acre controlled burn in Polk County, Tennessee, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
11Alive reports authorities advise residents to only call 911 if they see an active fire or flames, as the smoky conditions are expected to persist due to a shift in wind.
Polk County is on the Tennessee-Georgia state line. The nearest Georgia towns are McCaysville and Blue Ridge.