Summer Burn Ban Begins This Weekend For Johns Creek

JOHNS CREEK, GA — Starting on Saturday, Johns Creek will begin its annual summer burn ban. That means burning almost anything outside — including limbs, leaves and other yard debris — will be illegal.

Fulton County will be one of 54 Georgia counties to ban almost all outdoor fires through Sept. 30. Most of the counties covered by the Georgia burn ban are in and around metro Atlanta.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division does allow some outdoor fires, including barbecues and campfires for recreational purposes.

According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, careless burning of debris is the leading cause of wildfires in Georgia.

Summer burns are banned for the same reason Atlanta vehicles have emission tests — they contribute to ozone in the air, which the EPD says can reach "unhealthy levels" when it's warm.

The ban will continue until Sept. 30 unless weather and drought conditions this fall dictate otherwise. And remember, there's already a year-round ban on burning household garbage outdoors. Break the law, and you may face a hefty fine.

For a complete list of what you can burn and where you can burn it, visit the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's website.

For more information about the burn ban, see the outdoor burning guidelines on the city website. Submit an outdoor burn request using this online form. For more questions, call Johns Creek Fire Marshal Jeffrey Williamson at 678-512-3363 or email him at FireMarshal@JohnsCreekGA.gov.