Paulding Burn Ban Extended As Drought Worsens

DALLAS, GA — A countywide ban on outdoor burning in Paulding County has been extended, officials said Tuesday, as reports of a worsening drought increased wildfire concerns.

The burn ban has been extended indefinitely, Paulding County EMA coordinator Stephen Dooley said.

County officials actually extended the ban early this month, when a regionwide summertime ban ended.

But heightened drought conditions had officials emphasizing it again this week.

In a Facebook post, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office warned of "high fire danger," noting that low humidity levels and windy conditions have combined to increase the likelihood, and potential strength, of wildfires.

The National Weather Service has issued a "high fire danger" warning for Tuesday and an even more intense "extreme fire danger" warning for Wednesday in much of northwest and north-central Georgia.

Georgia's annual burn ban typically runs from May 1 through the end of Sepbember in 54 Georgia counties.

At the state level, it has been extended in Clayton, Fayette, Forsyth, Gwinnett and Hall counties, while other counties, like Paulding, are opting to continue the ban at the local level.

All outdoor burning, including leaves, trash, yard debris and storm damage is prohibited under the ban.

This year, the lack of rain has left about half of Georgia in moderate to severe drought, which increases the potential for wildfires to burn out of control.

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