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As fall deepens and edges closer to winter, the leaves begin to change and die, and weather grows drier and windier. These conditions can be dangerous for burning, with it being much easier for the fire to get out of control. As a result, Bainbridge Public Safety instituted a temporary burn ban on October 7, as part of a statewide ban, during which time no burn permits were issued. The ban was lifted at the end of last week.

BPS assistant fire chief Ryan Deen spoke more on the issue. “It was actually a statewide burn ban that Georgia Forestry had instituted,” he explained, “and this was before we had the rain… But if it gets dry like it was the previous couple of weeks, we may have to institute another ban, just because the conditions are so dry with no moisture on the ground, that we can’t control them.”

According to Deen, BPS actually held off on implementing the ban slightly longer than other parts of the state. “Once the conditions got to where we were starting to have grass fires in the city and they were getting out of control, we went ahead and stopped it as well,” he said.

The ban should remain lifted, “as long as we have intermittent rain, a little moisture that helps things green back up,” Deen said. “If people are going to have a fire, they need to be mindful and watch it, and make sure it doesn’t get out of control. It’s very easy to let the wind get in it and it’ll get away from you before you know it.”

For more information on burn permits, the Decatur County branch of the Georgia Forestry Commission can be reached at 229-248-2616, or for burning within the city, contact Bainbridge Public Safety at 229-248-2038.