FIRE INFORMATION (11-13-2024):

BURN BAN IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY:
misdemeanor offense carries a fine of up to $1,000
DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY - Declaration 11-4-23
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has determined that all of Dade County Georgia, currently is experiencing extreme drought; 
WHEREAS, there have been and continues to be numerous wildfires, controlled and uncontrolled, within the County that are destroying property and threatening the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Dade County; 
WHEREAS, the Chairperson/County Executive of Dade County and the Dade County Emergency Management Services have determined that continued open air burning within the County at this time greatly enhances the risk of further wildfires occurring in Dade County; 
WHEREAS, the Chairperson/County Executive of Dade County, with advice from the Trenton-Dade County Emergency Management Agency, has determined that there exists emergency circumstances in Dade County requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of property and the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Dade County; 
WHEREAS, Dade County Code Ordinances, Section 22-1, et seq., authorizes Chairperson/County Executive to take such emergency action as may be necessary to promote and secure the safety, protection, and well-being of the citizens of Dade County; and 
WHEREAS, an emergency ban on open air burning is required at this time to protect and prevent further injury to people and damage to property resulting from this event.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested by state law and by county ordinance, Sec. 22-1, et seq., it is hereby declared that a local state of emergency exists in Dade County. 
Accordingly it is further declared:

1. That the Trenton-Dade County Emergency Management Agency shall activate the Emergency Operations Plan;
2. That there shall be a ban and a moratorium on the permitting of all open-air fires and burning within the County, unless specifically authorized by the Georgia Forestry Service or other federal, state, or local  agencies; 
3. That the ban on further open-air fires and burning shall remain in place for a period of thirty days or until the emergency conditions abate as determined by the Chairperson/County Executive; 
4. That nothing in this declaration is intended to conflict with State law or Georgia Forestry Service regulations; and that violations of this declaration shall be punishable as provided by the Emergency Management and Disaster Response Ordinance. 

Ted M. Rumley, Chairperson/County Executive & Alex Case, Dade County Emergency Management Director

FIRE UPDATES:
(11/13/23 - this will be the last update from the incident management team)

Murphy Hollow Road / Lawson Mountain Fire

Back Valley Road Fire

Area: Back Valley Road at the east side of Sand Mountain
Started: 10/18/2023 from escaped debris burn
Size: 52 acres
Monitored: yes - currently being monitored and personnel are keeping firebreaks clear
Status:  *Contained 100% (the last daily update for this fire, unless significant activity occurs, will be 11/8/2023)

Egypt Hollow Fire

Area: Egypt Hollow on the back side of Sand Mountain
Started: 10/29/2023 just across the state line in Tennessee - cause is still under investigation.
Size: 420 acres (176 acres in Georgia and 244 acres in Tennessee)
Monitored: yes - currently being monitored by personnel.
Status:  *Contained 100%

Walker County Fire (Highway 157)

Area: top of Lookout Mountain
Started: 10/21/2023  (On 11/2/2023, fire escaped original containment lines and was active.)
Cause: Arson
Size: 706 acres (a reduction is acreage due to more accurate mapping.)
Monitored: The fire will continue to be patrolled & monitored due to leaf fall which leads to risk of areas re-burning
Status:  *Containment 99%

*Please note that there is a difference between a controlled burn and a wild/brush fire that is under control.  Wild/ Brush fires regardless of how they begin can often be brought under control by Forestry crews.  When that happens the fire is contained but it does not always mean the fire is totally or fully extinguished. Wild/Brush fires can burn for days or even weeks while being contained and monitored by Forestry crews. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Georgia Forestry Commission Incident Management Team (IMT) will begin demobilizing resources and transitioning roles of initial attack for new fires and monitoring of prior fires back to the local GFC units, effective 11/14/2023
• 11/12/2023 GFC responded to no new wildfires
• GFC will continue to be in contact with local county governments, EMA & Fire officials, and local law enforcement as needed
• Local government burn bans have been implemented in Dade County, Catoosa County, Walker County, Chattooga County, City of Chatsworth, Murray County, Gilmer, and Gordon County.
• Any significant updates or developments will be relayed as soon as possible to media and local officials

We will continue to update as needed.

Special Announcements:

From Georgia Forestry Commission Chief Ranger Heath Morton: 
Due to local rangers fighting ongoing wildfires we will be not issuing burn permits at this time in Dade County, Georgia.

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Agency / Resource Links

Georgia Forestry Commission	U.S. Forestry Service	National Weather Service	Georgia Department of Transportation	Dade County Emergency Management
https://gatrees.org/	https://www.fs.usda.gov/	https://www.weather.gov/	https://www.dot.ga.gov	Dade County EMA Update page

To see a current map of active wildfires in the state of Georgia please use this link to the GFC's website: Georgia Forestry Commission Wildfire Map

Different types of alerts and helpful definitions:

Each of the agencies listed above can and do issue their own alerts which may or may not be shared by other agencies and news outlets.

• Within the past few days the National Weather Service has issued alerts for High Fire Danger Conditions including the following:
  "DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TUESDAY: From the US National Weather Service Huntsville Alabama - FIRE WEATHER WATCH Tuesday, 10/31 from 10am to 7pm CDT. IT will be VERY dry, with relative humidity forecast to be at or near 25% during the afternoon on Tuesday. Drier conditions may be realized. Sustained northwest winds between 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph are possible as well."

• A Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning are NOT the same as a Burn Ban and are set by different agencies.
• Please note that there is a difference between a controlled burn and a wild/brush fire that is under control.  Wild/ Brush fires regardless of how they begin can often be brought under control by Forestry crews.  When that happens the fire is contained but it does not always mean the fire is totally or fully extinguished. Wild/Brush fires can burn for days or even weeks while being contained and monitored by Forestry crews. 

For questions please contact:

Georgia Forestry Commission Public Information Officer - Gabe Outlaw
email: goutlaw@gfc.state.ga.us
telephone: 706-401-5903
or

Dade County Public Information Officer - Carey Fauscett-Anderson
email: canderson@dadecoumty-ga.gov
telephone: 423-290-6655