Gwinnett Burning Ban Has Been Lifted

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — Gwinnett County fire officials have lifted the ban on outdoor burning.

Word first came down over the weekend from the county Fire Marshal's office that recent rains have done enough to ease concerns that typical burning could lead to wildfires.

The lifting of the ban includes resuming the issuance of permits to hold bonfires and build burn pits.

The suspension, due to severe drought conditions in north Georgia, had been in place since November 18.

Fire officials noted that Gwinnett is still experiencing drought conditions and advise safety and caution when doing any outdoor burning.a

The type of fires that are allowed without a permit include:

• The burning of leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation that may fall on one’s property.
• Fires for the purpose of keeping warm, when the outdoor temperature is 50 degrees or lower.
• Fires for the purpose of cooking food.
• Recreational fires in commercially available outdoor fireplaces.

The types of fires that require written permits from Gwinnett County Fire Plan Review include:

• Land clearing pit fires.
• Bonfires.

Fire officials note that burning is not allowed when winds are predicted to be, or are currently, in excess of 15 m.p.h., when the National Weather Service issues a red flag warning or a fire weather watch, or during an air pollution episode, such as an air pollution alert, warning or emergency declared by authorities.

Other types of fires that are not allowed include:

• No burning of solid waste or household garbage is allowed. No burning of any materials that emit a heavy dark smoke, such as rubber products, oils, roofing material and petroleum-based products, are allowed.
• No burning when smoke presents a health hazard to persons near the fire.
• No burning shall be conducted within 20 feet of flammable, combustible, or explosive materials, unless otherwise specified by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
• No burning allowed on Sundays or at night. Compliant bonfires, cooking fires, and recreational fires in chimineas and outdoor fireplaces may be burned on Sundays and at night provided all other criteria and restrictions are applied.

Anyone wishing to conduct an outdoor burn to rid their yard of small twigs, limbs and leaves, as well as construction sites employing an approved burn pit, should continue to check the burn status daily by going to the Gwinnett fire marshal's website or calling the Burn Information Line at (678) 518-4979.