Georgia DNR Issues Ban on Campfires

[Sharon Faulkner]

I know we'll have lots of folks caving and camping over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, let's all be careful out there in and around the woods.
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Department of Natural Resources issues campfire bans in North Georgia

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 26, 2007) - The dry forest conditions and increased fire danger resulting from a lack of significant rainfall in north Georgia has led the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) to issue a campfire ban in undeveloped camping areas on a number of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), effective immediately.

The current WMAs and north Georgia areas affected by the campfire ban include: Allatoona, Allen Creek, Berry College, Blue Ridge, Carters Lake, Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Cohutta, Cooper's Creek, Coosawattee, Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, Dawson Forest, Don Carter, Hart County, JL Lester, Johns Mountain, Lake Burton, Lake Russell, McGraw Ford, Otting, Paulding Forest, Pinelog, Rich Mountain, Sheffield, Swallow Creek, Warwoman, Wilson Shoals and Zahnd.

Because a number of wildfires have already developed across the state, including the devastating fires in south Georgia, and because the weather forecasts indicate no relief from the drought-like conditions in north Georgia over the next several days, the risk of wildfires continues to increase.

While no campfires will be allowed in the aforementioned areas, cook stoves and lanterns will still be permitted. Campfires are currently still allowed in most developed camping areas (i.e. designated camping areas with set metal fire rings) but are restricted on ALL campgrounds on US Army Corps of Engineers property. WRD urges campers in developed camping areas to take extreme caution while monitoring campfires.

All campers should adhere to the following safety tips when monitoring campfires in developed camping areas:

* Clear a five-foot area around the fire ring down to the soil.

* Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near by.

* Stack extra wood upwind and away from the fire.

* After lighting, do NOT discard the match until it is cold.

* Never leave a campfire unattended - not even for a minute.

* Flammable fuels should never be used to ignite fires and should never be stored near fire.

* Do NOT use lanterns or cook stoves inside tents.

For more information regarding the campfire bans or to learn more about camping opportunities across north Georgia, contact the WRD Region I Game Management office (Northwest Georgia) at [phone] or the WRD Region II Game Management office (Northeast Georgia) at [phone] or visit www.georgiawildlife.com

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[L Roebuck]

As I understand several southeastern states now have burn bans in effect. It used to rain in Tennessee -- but this is our third dry season in a row - we need a lot of rain!



pseudo raindance

[Sharon Faulkner]

Yes, it used to rain in Alabama too. If I'd known we were going to go into a drought I wouldn't have spread fertilizer around my plants.....

[Brian Roebuck]

Plants? You still have plants?

[Sharon Faulkner]

drbeaner said:

Plants? You still have plants?

;D ;D So far...but if it doesn't rain in the next 30 minutes some of them are going to die.

[L Roebuck]

LOL does your grass sounds like cornflakes yet?

[Sharon Faulkner]

Oh yeah, the grass in my yard is definitely crunchy Lynn. ;D