TALBOT COUNTY ARSONIST SENTENCED FOR SPRING WILDFIRE
A Columbus, Georgia man has been sentenced for deliberately setting a wildfire that burned more than 100 acres in Talbot County. Law enforcement officers with the Georgia Forestry Commission took William Shane Harvey into custody near the fire in March. He was charged with arson in the second degree. Harvey pled guilty to the charge … Continue Reading →
TIMBER THEFT CHARGES FILED AGAINST EASTMAN TIMBER AGENT
A registered agent of Branch Forestry Co., LLC in Eastman, Georgia, is facing timber theft charges. Christopher Bradley Branch was arrested by law enforcement officers of the Georgia Forestry Commission on September 1, 2026. Branch has been charged with Failure to Pay for Natural Products or Chatels (O.C.G.A. 16-9-58) in connection with a timber harvesting … Continue Reading →
TIMBER THEFT CHARGES LODGED AGAINST BULLOCH COUNTY MAN
A Bulloch County man is facing theft charges in connection with a timber sale transaction. Kevin Oglesby was arrested by law enforcement officers from the Georgia Forestry Commission on September 17, 2026. He is charged with Failure to Pay for Natural Products or Chatels (O.C.G.A. 16-9-58). The violation carries a penalty of no less than … Continue Reading →
Leaf Watch Report for October 7, 2026
North Central Georgia There has been more noticeable color change since last week, however, the majority of the vibrant and vivid fall color displays are still a couple weeks away. Now is a great time to get out and view some native wildflowers such as goldenrod, asters, and ironweed. Early changing tree species such as … Continue Reading →
GFC Launches Online Burn Permit System
It’s getting a little easier to obtain a burn permit. A new online permit system goes live on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The online system mirrors the availability of permits at the county level, while maintaining the same restrictions and business rules used by GFC’s internal burn permit interface. If a local GFC unit has … Continue Reading →
Leaf Watch Report for October 1, 2026
North Central Georgia The fall foliage season has just arrived in north-central Georgia and the overall forest canopy across all elevation ranges is still dominated by summer green. Some early changing tree species such as sourwood, flowering dogwood, red maple, and yellow-poplar are beginning to show some nice early fall colors ranging from dull red … Continue Reading →
SPECIAL GRANTS HELP RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS PLAN FOR WILDFIRE
Close to 30-thousand people in three southeast Georgia counties will soon be getting enhanced protection from wildfires. Special grants are being used to fund needed equipment and resources at seven fire departments hit hardest by last spring’s destructive fires. Brantley, Clinch, and Echols Counties will be given $15,000 each, for a total investment of $105,000. … Continue Reading →
NORTH GEORGIA BURN BAN TO BE LIFTED OCTOBER 1
The summer ban on outdoor burning in 54 northern Georgia counties will be lifted on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The annual restrictions are imposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division from May 1 through the end of September to protect air quality from emissions that may increase ground level ozone during the hot summer months. … Continue Reading →
Avoiding Common Mistakes in Forestry: Highlights from the Georgia Forestry Forum Podcast
The practice of forestry can be a complex undertaking, as landowners face numerous decisions regarding land management. Whether you’re dealing with 20 acres or 2,000, having a solid understanding of forest management is crucial. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most common pitfalls landowners encounter and share insights from seasoned forestry experts: Georgia … Continue Reading →
From Georgia to Virginia: Two Weeks on the Fireline
On July 9, I joined a crew of 20 firefighters from across the state of Georgia mobilizing for a hand-crew assignment to the Taylor Hollow fire in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest. It was my first out-of-state assignment after completing several online courses, in-person RT-130 training (annual safety training covering fire shelters, decision making, hazard … Continue Reading →
