High Fire Danger Impacts Outdoor Burning

* Georgia law no longer requires notification to the Georgia Forestry Commission by people planning to burn yard debris. Charges may apply if wildfire results from escaped burning and evidence…

Georgia Burn Notification Law Changing

Commission Director Tim Lowrimore. “The Georgia Forestry Commission responds to more than 3,500 wildfires a year. With a strong focus on individual burning safety as required with these new changes,…

Understanding Georgia’s Outdoor Burning Laws

…of escape when someone is burning hand-piled vegetation. There are common denominators that come up time and time again when wildfires are caused by someone who burns hand-piled vegetation and…

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in Georgia

…to have infected plants in the summer and fall of 2004. A total of 59,000 potentially infected plants were shipped to Georgia. While 10,000 plants were intercepted by the Department…

A Look Back at GFC in 2021

…with the Association of County Commissioners, we have developed a uniform, online timber harvesting notification system for timber harvesters and county officials. Establishment of Carbon Advisory Committee – Created a…

Urban & Community Forestry

Healthy community and urban forests are integral to the lives of all Georgians. The Georgia Forestry Commission’s urban and community foresters help protect and promote Georgia’s urban forests by: Providing…

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

…homeowners associations environmental organizations A completed CWPP is circulated to the community and posted on their public website so citizens can understand their local risk and prepare accordingly. CWPP plans…

Landowners Can Help Reduce Wildfire in Georgia

By Frank Sorrells, GFC Chief of Protection. Over the years, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) Protection team has responded to tens of thousands of wildfires. In fact, each year more…

Leaf Watch Report for November 4th, 2021

…yellow. While oak and maple have made the largest contributions to overall color this week, previously vivid sourwood, blackgum, and dogwood have surpassed peak. Leaves have dropped and bright shades…

Forest Biomass

…often burned as a disposal means. Although some branches and tops are broken and scattered during the harvesting operation, much of them could be chipped and used for bioenergy operations….