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Published Saturday, September 27, 2008 in Local

Burn ban to lift Wednesday, but beware of dry conditions outside

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

erichardson@newnan.com

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division's burn ban, effective every year beginning in May for 54 counties throughout the state -- including Coweta County -- officially lifts on Wednesday.

The ban is designed to reduce air pollution in the hot summer months during smog season when ground level ozone and particle pollution are more likely to reach unhealthy levels.

Terry Quigley, chief ranger at the Georgia Forestry Commission's Coweta office, reminds the public that his office issues the necessary burn permits daily based on the fire danger for that day. And lately, the fire danger has been "running high," according to Quigley, thanks to ongoing drought conditions.

The drought index is measured on a number scale from zero to 800. Recently, that number has been "hanging out in the high 600s."

"It would take a lot of rain to bring it down," said Quigley.

The main weather factor that affects the burn permits, though, is the cloud cover. While some might think that overcast weather is the best time to burn debris, Quigley counters that the low cloud cover creates a smog atmosphere, trapping the smoke and causing breathing problems for some.

Quigley wants the community to be aware that Georgia has enacted a three-strike rule this year to punish habitual violators who burn illegally. Once a person has had three violations, an enforcement officer will issue a ticket with a fine. That violator will be placed on a no-burn list.

Quigley also wants people who had the old annual burn permit to be aware that they are no longer valid. Those cards were voided, and now previous cardholders must obtain a daily permit to burn legally. In fact, those permits are no longer issued anywhere in the state because of the smoke control problems.

"We want to know when people are burning and be able to turn it off when we have to," said Quigley.

Quigley anticipates that many will be seeking burn permits on Wednesday. He recommends that no one leave a fire unattended, have a water source nearby and never try to burn a giant pile of debris -- it's hazardous and illegal.

There are three ways to obtain a burn permit. The first is to call the automated phone system at 1-877-OK2-BURN (877-652-2876). People can also go online at gatrees.org. Anyone with questions can call Quigley at the local forestry commission office on Corinth Road south of Newnan at 770-254-7217.

If someone burns without a permit and something goes awry, that person will be responsible for paying a suppression charge for the commission to recoup costs. If a fire spreads when the person was permitted to burn, the fire service is free of charge.

For more information about alternatives to burning, such as composting and chipping, call the Department of Community Affairs at 404-679-4940 or the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division at 1-800-685-2443.