Fire Danger Warning Issued in North Georgia

PEACHTREE CITY, GA — Much of north Georgia was under a fire-danger warning Friday, with the National Weather Service urging people to use extreme caution with flames.

The red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and covers everything north of the Macon-Columbus line.

The warning was triggered by a combination of low humidity and high winds.

Winds of 15-20 mph are forecast by the Weather Service, with gusts up to 25-30 mph. Speeds are likely to be even greater in higher elevations in far north Georgia.

Add to that the dry conditions as Georgia continues to suffer through a drought.

A vast chunk of north Georgia has experienced what meteorologists are calling the driest 60-day period on record.

"Any ongoing wildfires or additional fires that might develop will likely spread rapidly," the National Weather Service said in the warning. "Outdoor burning of any kind is strongly discouraged and already banned in most locations."

There is no rain in the forecast for the next week, either.

The red flag warning includes the Chattahoochee and Oconee national forests.

Georgians are urged to check with local fire officials before doing any outdoor burning.

Many counties in metro Atlanta and elsewhere have extended a summertime burning ban that impacts 54 Georgia counties.

Image via Shutterstock