A burn ban is in effect for Pierce County and 90 other counties in Georgia, roughly from a line extending from Columbus to Macon to Savannah and south to the Florida line.
The burn ban was put in place Wednesday in response to ongoing wildfires in South Georgia, including a large 23,000-plus acre fire in neighboring Brantley County.
The burn ban prohibits all types of burning, including prescribed burns as well as the burning of yard debris and agricultural material.
Those violating the ban are subject to arrest or fines.
The Pierce County Commission adopted a burn ban just prior to the Governor’s declaration. The burn ban issued by the Governor supercedes Pierce County’s ban, but both are similar.
While only a few minor wildfires have been reported in Pierce County, local volunteer firefighters and law enforcement have been assisting neighboring Brantley County with firefighting efforts in the so-called U.S. Highway 82 fire near Atkinson, Fendig, Needmore and Hortense and southern Wayne Co.
Two Pierce County Volunteer Firefighters form the Walkerville stationwere treated for smoke inhalation while fighting the Brantley County fire Thursday.
A similar, large 32,000 acre wildfire is also raging in rural, sparsely populated areas of Clinch and Echols County near the Georgia-Florida line.
Governor Kemp also declared a state of emergency in south Georgia. Both the burn ban and the state of emergency will remain in place for 30 days.
The state of emergency allows the Georgia Forestry Commission and all other relevant state agencies to mobilize all necessary resources to assist with active response efforts in the southern region of the state. The Georgia Department of Defense has mobilized Georgia National Guard troops and resources for response and recovery efforts. Air assets and Guardsmen are being activated and deployed to the affected areas.
“With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state’s 5year average and continue to spread,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “My team and I are working closely with Georgia State Forester Johnny Sabo and his team, along with federal, state, and local officials, to ensure we are doing everything possible to combat the fires and provide assistance to affected communities. We are praying for the families who have lost their homes in these devastating conditions, as well as for the first responders working around the clock.”
