While many Northwest Georgia communities have chosen to keep the state’s annual summer burn ban in place past the October 1st expiration, the ban has been lifted in Rome and Floyd County.
Linda Patty, Life and Fire Safety Educator from the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department, asserts that it is unlikely that anyone will be granted a permit for outdoor burning anytime soon, due to the recent heatwave and lack of rain in our area. But you can give it a try! Those who live in the City of Rome must call (706) 236-4500, while those in Floyd County should contact the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-877-OK2-BURN.
Outdoor burning restrictions are put in place every year by the Georgia EPD from May 1st until September 30th, when increases in ground level ozone may create health risks. This burn ban is also intended to prevent wildfires, attests Patty.
This week – October 6th through 12th – marks the annual observation of Fire Prevention Week across the US and Canada.