Authorities advise delaying any planned burns
Even if it’s cold, fire risk can still be high.
The National Weather Service warned last week that low humidity and high winds have made “extremely dangerous fire weather conditions” possible.
Gilmer County Emergency Management (GCEM) gives these conditions a Red Flag warning Tuesday, Dec. 30, advising people to talk to local authorities before burning materials outdoors. To receive warnings about these conditions, people should check the GCEM app.
When GCEM puts out a burn warning like this one, you shouldn’t burn anything.
Cold winter weather helps stop fire, but any season can have dry, windy conditions that are very dangerous.
Dry winter air can pull moisture out of fuel in the woods. That makes it easy for forests to ignite.
After fires start, high winds can quickly spread them across the county.
In these conditions, it’s best to not start fires outside. It’s easy for a spark to escape or drift for miles until it starts a blaze.
It may be tempting to clear brush by burning it, but the consequences aren’t worth it.
For those who need more information, Georgiatrees.org offers rules and guidelines for fires.
Dry leaves or dead wood can always wait until a time when it’s safer.
It can take just minutes for a fire to go out of control.