Firefighters warn of burn dangers due to drought

vironmental damage, where a few acres were burned and the terrain made it difficult for the firefighters to battle the blaze.

The dense, wooded area had several trees down, which added to the difficulty.

Camp said the number one cause of fires in Georgia is unattended fires.

Residents should never leave a fire unattended, Camp said.

Always use water or dirt to extinguish a campfire, Camp said.

That includes leaving the fire to go back into the residence, because all it can take is one spark from the fire to ignite the area around it.

Camp said in May, there were 13 brush fires. As of June 23, there have been five reported brush fires, which equals the same number of brush fires of June 2015.

Camp said the burn ban helps to keep these types of fires low. Years prior to the burn ban, there were significantly more brush fires.

there were significantly more brush fires.

Camp said July and August were the busiest for firefighters in Walker County prior to the burn ban.

The burn ban goes into effect every May 1 through October 1.

People who conduct illegal burns, such as burning trash, can be cited by the state of Georgia. Trash is always illegal to burn.

“The burn ban, for us, has made a significant difference,” Camp said.

These dry conditions can lead to fires by various means, including discarding smoking materials such as cigarettes and cigars.

“A lot of roadside fires are due to discarded cigarettes,” Camp said.

This occurs usually on country roads, where there is heavy brush and foliage as well as heavy winds near wooded areas.

Burn permits can be obtained by the Walker County Emergency Services and can be located at www.walker-