After the Rain: Wildfire risk persists in North Georgia despite recent rainfall

CHATTAHOOCHEE-OCONEE NATIONAL FOREST, Ga.— Georgia has been in a prolonged drought and recent rainfall has only slightly moderated fire conditions. While moisture lessens the chance of wildfire in some areas, vegetation is still prone to igniting with the smallest spark.

“Don’t let recent rain trick you into thinking we are out of critical fire danger,” said Fire Management Officer Mike Davis. “Even though it has lessened the probability of a wildfire starting, it doesn’t mean it cannot occur.”

Members of the public may assume that wildfire risk has been appropriately mitigated by recent rainfall in parts of North Georgia. However, these conditions did not soak vegetation thoroughly enough to meaningfully reduce wildfire risk. Even after an inch of rain, leaves and other fine fuels will dry out within three days – rapidly returning to high-risk conditions for wildfires. The public should continue to practice increased caution, according to National Fire Prevention Education Team Lead Mark Wiles.

Aubrey Brown, Georgia’s Wildland Urban Interface Specialist, with the Georgia Forestry Commission, urges the public to follow SSTAR burn requirements for hand pile vegetation:

• Space – Burn location must be no less than 25 feet from any woodlands, forestland, or field that contains brush, grass, or other flammable material.
• Space – Burn location must be no less than 50 feet from structures, which includes homes, outbuildings, sheds, and barns.
• Time – Burning must take place between sunrise and sunset.
• Attendance – Person responsible must attend burning at all times until fire is completely extinguished and there is no risk for burning to escape control.
• Reasonable Precautions – Person responsible must take reasonable and necessary precautions to prevent fire escape or spread from the original location.

To find out about fire restrictions in your community, please contact your local fire department or the nearest local Georgia Forestry Commission office by calling 1-800-GA-TREES (428-7337) or send a message online. Please visit www.fs.usda.gov/conf to sign up for email updates.

Working together we can protect Georgia from destructive and devastating wildfires.

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