TOTAL FIRE BAN now in effect on Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests Contact(s): Contact: (470) 202-8844

Due to extreme fire danger and the current drought situation, Forest managers have made an important decision on behalf of public safety to issue a total fire ban on the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests. Pursuant to Title 36 C.F.R. Section 261.50 (a) and (b), and for the protection of the public and natural resources, the following act or omission is prohibited on all lands and waters that comprise the Chattahoochee Oconee National Forests in Georgia. The provisions shall remain in effect from November 8, 2016 to January 14, 2017. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire (including charcoal based fire whether contained in a grill or not). 36 CFR 261.52 Note: Commercially available fuel stoves (camp stoves) are excluded from this restriction. Pursuant to the provisions of Title 36 C.F.R. Section 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from the above prohibition: Persons with a permit specially authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. Any Federal, State, or Local officer or member of any organized rescue or firefighting force in the official performance of their duties. View a copy of the FS Order. The Rough Ridge Fire (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5078/#) in the Cohutta Wilderness is currently over 5,000 acres. Firefighters on the forest have also responded to 26 smaller incidents in the past month, totaling 596 acres. While some of these, including the Rough Ridge Fire, have been caused by lightning, the majority of these fires have been human caused. Everyone has a part to play in preventing future wildfires. Do not have open flame anywhere on the forest and be very cautious about activities that could produce sparks such as dragging chains or operating a chainsaw without a spark arrestor. Several Georgia counties have issued countywide burn bans. Contact your county’s Emergency Management or Department for Public Safety to learn more. ### For more updates and to learn more about Georgia's national forests, download the official free mobile app for your smartphone or tablet, or visit us on the web at www.fs.usda.gov/conf. You can also get the latest forest news by liking us on Facebook and following us on twitter @ChattOconeeNF. The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.



