Fires continue to break out in the area as dry conditions continue. Don’t burn anything right now
Polk County is no stranger to the latest round of fires in North Georgia as a brush fire broke out last week on Thursday, Nov. 10 on Pine Bower Road near Cedartown. It joined many others around the region that are burning currently, and now the Georgia Forestry Commission is organizing a group to combat the problem through education.
A special team from the Georgia Forestry Commission is reaching out to local residents, organizations and the media to share important information about fire prevention. As thousands of acres continue to burn across the region, GFC professionals are making personal connections to help keep people and property safe from wildfire.
"We can come to your special event, your meetings, clubs, festivals, wherever locals are gath- ering," said Mark Wiles, Team Leader. "We want you to know about strategies that can be used to prepare for possible evacuation and making your home more resistant to fire. These are real life tools that can help you get ready if you are in the path of a wildfire," Wiles said.
The ongoing drought has contributed to a huge jump in wildfires across Georgia, especially in the northern region and into bordering states. The GFC has responded to 1,937 wildfires in the state so far this fiscal year, a 200% increase over the five year average, with fires burning nearly 300% more acres.
"People should not be lighting any kind of fire outdoors right now," said Wiles. "One tiny spark from a campfire or a tossed cigarette, coupled with the wind, can quickly lead to a raging fire."
The fire prevention team is dis- seminating information from the Firewise USA program, which teaches communities how to construct neighborhoods that are resistant to wildfire. Techniques that can be applied now include clearing debris from a home's roof, gutters and decks; removing flammable items from under decks and from within 30 feet of any structure; pruning low hanging branches from trees and clearing dry grasses and plants from the landscape. More information about Firewise USA safety practices can be found at www. firewise.org.
They’ll be in Rome until Nov. 13, and then are headed to the Helen area through Nov. 19, according to a release from the GFC.
To contact the fire prevention team, send an email to: northcoosafirepreventionteam@gmail.com.