Wendy Burnett, spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Commission, speaks with GPB's Catherine Callaway about recent wildfires in Georgia.
Rain across the state Tuesday night lowered wildfire risk in some regions of the state, temporarily reducing the risk for Wednesday. But official said Georgians should remain vigilant to prevent fires because the long-range forecast shows high risk of wildfires through May and beyond.
Georgia has seen above normal wildfire activity in February and March, with dozens of fires still listed as active or controlled, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission's fire response map.
Wendy Burnett, Public Relations Director for the GFC, told GPB Monday the agency responded to 490 wildfires across the state between Feb. 24 and March 2. Those fires burned more than 6,200 acres.
"This is above the average that we're accustomed to," she said. "So this is high fire activity, and we unfortunately expect for March to just be a busy month in terms of wildfires. NOAA puts out a wildfire prediction report. And Georgia, the entire state is red, which indicates we can expect to see above normal fire activity for the month."
A Talbot County man was jailed on felony arson charges Sunday, March 2.
"Shane Harvey was taken into custody near the location of a 108-acre wildfire, which he is accused of deliberately setting," a Georgia Forestry Commission release said. "While no injuries were reported, the fire destroyed two outbuildings, two residences incurred damage, and 11 victims reported property damage. According to GFC investigators, the suspect was arrested without incident and charged with Arson of Lands, GA Code 16-7-63. The violation carries a penalty of up to $50,000 or one to 20 years in prison."
Arson is one of the leading causes of wildfires in Georgia. Those who commit arson face strict penalties under Georgia law. The Georgia Forestry Commission maintains an Arson Hotline at 1-800-GA-TREES. For more information, visit GaTrees.org.
Although contained small burns in backyards may not require a permit (see regulations here), larger burns or prescribed burns do, because all fires can get out of control quickly.
"We give our county Rangers the authority to take all a myriad of factors into consideration, from weather to resources available to what fires may be burning in their area," Burnett said. "So we just ask for patience from our Georgia landowners when they're thinking about prescribed burning. We just want everybody to be safe."
Burnett said following guidelines and paying attention can save lives when preventing wildfires.
"Our friend Smokey Bear tells us that only you can prevent wildfires," she said, "and the wildfire that never gets started is the easiest one for us to put out. So just be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of the situation. If it's really dry out, if the wind is really blowing. Just be extra careful and extra vigilant. Like anything that might create a smart spark or a heat source."
