(Lawrenceville Ga., September 30, 2015) – The annual burn ban period will come to a close on October 1, 2015. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division restricts open burning during warm weather months in metro Atlanta and larger counties to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations.  According to DNR, outdoor burning is a significant contributor of pollutants that can form unhealthy levels of ozone in the air.  Residents who want to burn between October 1 and April 30 are required to follow the county ordinance restrictions that cover all types of outdoor burning.  The fire department would like to remind residents that proper attention to the outdoor burning ordinance and taking safety precautions can greatly reduce your risk of causing damage to your home, vehicle and neighboring property. 

The types of fires that are allowed without a permit are:

•             The burning of leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation that may fall on one’s property

•             Fires for the purpose of keeping warm

•             Fires for the purpose of cooking food for human consumption

•             Recreational fires in a commercially available chiminea or outdoor fireplace

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

•             Land clearing pit fires

•             Bonfires

The following general rules govern all burning:

•             Never leave an outdoor fire unattended.

•             The Fire Marshal’s Office may temporarily prohibit any and/or all outdoor fires.

•             Burning is not permitted when prevailing winds are predicted to be, or are, in excess of 15                miles per hour, 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 proper authorities.  You also must wait at least 24-hours (one-day) following the passage of a cold front before burning.

•             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, etc.

•             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.

               Complete information about outdoor burning can be found at www.gwinnettfiremarshal.com in the publication “Outdoor and Open Burning” or you can contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction-Fire Marshal’s Office or 678.518.4980 and select Option 3 for the Burn Information Line.  Please click the below link for a brochure on Outdoor Burning Regulations.

http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/static/departments/fire_emergency/pdf/outdoor_open_burning_brochure.pdf