The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department wants everyone to be safe as we head into cooler temperatures. The summer State-wide burn ban is lifted as of October 1. To prepare, Safety Educator Jeremy Webb and the Fire Prevention team held a press conference and demonstration at the Fire Training Facility on Wednesday, September 30. You can watch the demo, which was live-streamed on our Facebook page, by clicking here.
On May 1st ,2020 A “State Wide Burn Ban” was issued by the Georgia State Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The EPD imposes the ban on outdoor burning to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations.
During the summer months in Georgia, the ozone in the air we breathe can reach unhealthy levels. The Georgia EPD has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone.
Citizens and businesses are prohibited from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the burn ban season. Some actions, such as campfires and agricultural activities, are exempt from the ban.
In accordance with the State Fire Prevention Code, The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department requires a burning permit be requested prior to burning.
Burn permits are to be used for natural vegetative materials such as (leaves, small limbs, pine cones, or pine straw). It is unlawful to burn man made material such as tire, shingles, paper, plastics, lumber, or household garbage.
Burn permits are good only for the day they are issued. No burning is allowed on windy days (10 mph or higher) or on days when the atmospheric conditions (cloudy, overcast, or raining) would cause the smoke to remain low to the ground.
A water hose that can reach the burn site must be available for wetting down area. All burn sites must be at least 25 feet from all buildings on property. All piles must be no higher than 4 feet in height and diameter.
To obtain a burn permit, contact The Macon-Bibb County Fire Prevention office at 478-751-2700, Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 2:00pm. Fires should not initiate before 8:00 am and should be completely extinguished before dark. No burning is allowed on Sundays.
The Burn Ban is lifted through May 1st 2021.
For questions or more information, please contact our Fire Prevention Bureau at (478) 751-2700. You can also find more information on this ban and a list of the counties on Environmental Protection Division Website at epd.georgia.gov .