Outdoor Burning Banned Until Fall

Tempted to rake up lingering leaves, twigs and other yard debris into a pile and set it afire to get rid of it. Well, you can't do it. Outdoor burning in Gwinnett County is prohibited until fall.

Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services recently announced that all outdoor burning is banned from May 1 through Sept. 30.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) imposes an annual ban on outdoor burning to comply with federal Clean Air Regulations. During the summer months in Georgia, the ozone in the air can reach unhealthy levels. 

The outdoor burn ban does not include barbecue grills. However, barbecue grills are not permitted on the balcony of any apartment buildings under the county's Fire Ordinance.            

The following burning is banned:                

• Trees, limbs, or any other yard waste. This includes a ban on the use of air curtain destructors for land clearing.

The following burning is still allowed with the proper permits:

• Fires for agricultural practices zoned RA-200/residential agricultural or a forestry service prescribed burn.
• All bonfires for activities sponsored by: educational, civic, religious or other groups for the purpose of celebration are required to be permitted.
• Fires for the purpose of training of firefighting personnel.

 Contact the Gwinnett Fire Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518-4980 or go to the website at www.gwinnettfiremarshal.com for more information.