Fire officials offer tips for safe debris burns

With autumn leaves falling across Middle Georgia, fire officials urge caution for safe disposal.

"The problem that you run into is those leaves, once you light them on fire, little portions of those leaves can be blowing embers that get picked up by the breeze," Perry Fire Chief Joel Gray said. "And it can be several feet away from your pile where they land, and if you don't realize that's happened, you'll turn around and now you've got a grass fire going."

In Georgia, residents are required to get a burn permit and are only permitted to burn debris of fallen leaves and twigs.

Some basic guidelines include burning 50 feet away from a roadway and from buildings, having a water source on hand such as a hose, and ensuring that the burn does not take place under trees, Gray said.

Bibb County fire Lt. Brenda Thomas said residents should not use an accelerant on a debris burn or leave a fire unattended. She also said only small piles of leaves and twigs should be burned at a time.

Burns are not permitted when it's windy, extremely dry, raining or overcast, Thomas said.

"We don't have a problem with the burn," Thomas said. "But we really need people to understand that they should call in to our office, the fire prevention bureau, to get the guidelines, because sometimes people are doing burns that they shouldn't be doing.

"People think they can burn paper," Thomas said. "Even if they have a barrel for a warming fire, they can't burn their bills and their papers, because it's not allowed" and is bad for the environment.

Also, fire officials recommend not piling up leaves near structures and being careful not to drop cigarettes near leaves or other dry vegetation.

Most burn permits are issued for one day only, and the fires should be out before dark.

Bibb County currently issues burn permits from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the same day of the burn, Thomas said. Meanwhile, Perry firefighters will look at the property before a burn permit is issued, Gray said.

Because guidelines may vary among localities, residents should check with the Georgia Forestry Commission and their local fire departments for specific requirements where they live.

According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, debris burning is the top cause of brush fires in Georgia.

In 2014, four deaths and 14 injuries were recorded among the 8,891 brush and grass fires reported through the Georgia Fire Incident Reporting System, according to the Georgia Department of Insurance. Property loss from brush and grass fires totaled $1.2 million last year.

Georgia also has a statewide outdoor burn ban from May 1 through Sept. 30.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter @becpurser.