Statewide burn ban lifted Thursday

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division lifted its statewide burn ban Thursday.

Though the ban is lifted, the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department still requires a burning permit be requested prior to burning, according to a news release from the county.

To obtain a burn permit, contact the fire prevention office at 751-2700 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

According to the release:

Burn permits are to be used for natural vegetative material such as leaves, small limbs, pine cones or pine straw.

Man-made materials such as tires, shingles, paper, plastics, lumber or household garbage cannot be burned.

Burn permits are good only for the day they are issued.

No burning is allowed on windy days (10 mph or higher) or on days when the atmospheric conditions (cloudy, overcast, or raining) would cause the smoke to remain low to the ground.

Burning should not begin before 8 a.m. and should be completely extinguished before dark.

Burning on Sundays is not allowed.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Statewide burn ban lifted Thursday ."