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The burn ban for the state of Georgia was lifted on Thursday through April 30.

This ban was in place for Air Quality Protection and is enforced by the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency. During the ban, certain types of outdoor burning were not allowed.

The LaGrange Fire Department can assist residents and business owners apply for a burn permit inside the city limits of LaGrange.

 LaGrange Fire Marshal John Thomas wants to remind the community if you plan to conduct an outside burn, you must observe the following requirements:

4Burn only limbs, brush and/or leaves

4Burn only on a clear day with light to no wind. Guidelines will not allow to issue a burn permit if there is low lying clouds or if the wind is too strong.

4Consider the size of your burn pile. If it is 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall or less, make sure you are at least 15 feet from any structure or wood line. If the pile is greater than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall, it’s required to be at least 50 feet from any structure or wood line.

4Always have a water source nearby to extinguish the fire if needed and always attend the burn pile at all times.

4Burn only between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

To apply for a burn, permit an LFD representative will come to assess the material, size and location of the burn pile. Weather permitting, LFD could issue a burn permit for that day. 

The same process will be required each day of the burn. 

Even if a resident has a burn permit, the burn pile will need to be extinguished if the LFD receives a complaint for smoke or smell.  To apply for a burn permit call LFD Fire Marshal John Thomas at (706) 883-2659. If you live outside of city limits and live in the county and want to apply for a burn permit, contact the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-877-652-2876, or visit gatrees.org/fire-prevention-suppression/burn-permits/.

For more information from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division regarding allowed burn types, please visit: https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-rules-georgia/burn-types.