Georgia’s annual ban on outdoor burning will end this Wednesday, September 30th for 54 counties (including Floyd).
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division mandates the restrictions on burning from May 1st until the end of September in order to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground level ozone, as stated in a release of the Georgia Forestry Commission. According to Cpl. Don Bullard, a Life and Fire Safety Educator with the Rome/Floyd County Fire Department, the burn ban arose from the Clean Air Initiative of the 1970s.
And before you burn, make sure that you get a permit. Burn permits may be obtained through the Georgia Forestry Commission by calling 1 (888) OK-2-BURN. Rome residents may get a permit from the fire department by calling (706) 236-4500, says Cpl. Bullard.