ATLANTA — Georgia's summer burn ban will begin on May 1, affecting 54 counties around Atlanta and the northern part of the state.
The ban will last for several months, ending Sept. 30., according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division.
The ban prohibits "citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris." A full-time ban on burning garbage is in place year-round, according to the DNR's website.
Restrictions are typically placed each year to reduce the pollutants or ozone brought into the air. During summertime in metro Atlanta, the burning of fossil fuels and other combustible materials can increase ozone, making the air toxic for residents.
Ozone is created when "volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of sunlight," the website said. Poor air quality and high ozone levels have been linked to lung and heart disease in humans.
In addition to the air quality risks, burn bans reduce the likelihood of wildfires during the summer months.
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, people are the number one cause of wildfires in Georgia. By enacting the annual summer burn ban, this helps to lower the risk of wildfires.
The 54 counties affected can be found here.
According to the EPD, exemptions to the burn ban include:
- Agricultural burning exemption
- Forestry "prescribed burning" exemption
- Campfires or barbeques
- Fire-fighting training exemption, provided an appropriate permit is issued
- Operation of open flame equipment exemption
- Explosive disposal in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor Safety Regulations
*Not exempted in the 19 county metro Atlanta non-attainment area: Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Rockdale and Walton.