Across Georgia, dry conditions have led to an increase in wildfire activity. When rainfall is limited and vegetation dries out, even the smallest spark can quickly turn into a wildfire. That’s why the Georgia Forestry Commission is urging everyone to use extreme caution when spending time outdoors.

But for many Georgians, this moment can feel confusing. If wildfire risk is elevated, why do we still see smoke from prescribed burns? The answer lies in understanding one simple truth: Not all fire is the same.

Wildfire Risk and Drought Conditions

When Georgia experiences drought or extended dry weather, the landscape changes. Leaves, pine needles, grasses, and other vegetation on the forest floor become dry and highly flammable. Under these conditions, fires can start more easily and spread more rapidly. That means everyday activities carry more risk than usual. Something as simple as parking a hot vehicle in dry grass, using equipment that creates sparks, and leaving a campfire unattended can ignite a wildfire. This is why public messaging during drought conditions focuses heavily on prevention. Reducing accidental ignitions is critical to protecting lives, property, and Georgia’s 24 million acres of forestland.

So Why Are Prescribed Burns Still Happening?

At the same time wildfire risk increases, you may still see smoke rising from forests and rural areas. These are not wildfires—they are prescribed burns. You can check anytime to see prescribed burns and wildfires in your area on our real-time, interactive Public Viewer.

Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools we have for managing Georgia’s forests and reducing wildfire risk over the long term. These burns are not spontaneous or uncontrolled. They are:

  • Carefully planned in advance
  • Conducted under specific weather conditions
  • Permitted through the Georgia Forestry Commission
  • Monitored closely by trained professionals

In other words, prescribed fire is intentional. 

The Key Difference: Unplanned Fire vs. Planned Fire

The confusion often comes from seeing fire in two very different contexts at the same time. During dry conditions:

  • Unplanned fire is dangerous.
    It can spread quickly, threaten homes, and require emergency response.
  • Planned fire is preventative.
    It is used strategically to reduce the very conditions that make wildfires more severe.

Prescribed burns are only conducted when weather conditions—such as wind, humidity, and atmospheric stability—allow them to be safely managed and controlled. If conditions are not appropriate, burns are postponed.

How Prescribed Fire Reduces Wildfire Risk

To understand why prescribed fire is still used during periods of heightened wildfire awareness, it helps to look at what fuels a wildfire.

Wildfires depend on accumulated vegetation—fallen leaves, pine needles, dead wood, and thick undergrowth—to grow and intensify. This material acts as fuel.

Prescribed burns reduce that fuel. By intentionally burning off excess vegetation under controlled conditions, land managers can:

  • Lower the intensity of future wildfires
  • Slow the rate at which fire spreads
  • Create natural breaks that help contain fire
  • Protect nearby homes and communities

Put simply: Prescribed fire removes the fuel that wildfires depend on.

Why Prevention Matters Even More During Dry Conditions

When conditions are dry, wildfire risk increases—but so does the importance of fuel reduction. Without prescribed fire, vegetation continues to build up over time. If a wildfire does start under those conditions, it has more fuel available, making it more intense, harder to control, and more dangerous.

That’s why prescribed fire remains a critical part of forest management, even during periods of elevated wildfire awareness. It is a proactive step that helps reduce the severity of future wildfires.

What This Means for You

If you see smoke in your area, it may be from a prescribed burn. You can check anytime to see prescribed burns and wildfires in your area on our real-time, interactive Public Viewer. These prescribed burns are conducted with safety as the top priority and are a normal part of managing Georgia’s forests. At the same time, your role is just as important. During dry conditions:

  • Use extra caution with anything that could create a spark
  • Avoid parking vehicles in dry grass
  • Follow local burn guidance and permit requirements
  • Report any unattended or suspicious fires

Preventing accidental fires is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk.

A Shared Responsibility

The Georgia Forestry Commission’s mission is to protect and sustain Georgia’s forests and the communities that depend on them. That means doing two things at once: Responding to wildfires when they occur—and working every day to prevent them.

Prescribed fire is a key part of that prevention. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, it plays a vital role in keeping Georgia’s forests healthy and reducing the risk of more dangerous fires in the future.

Because in Georgia, fire isn’t just something we fight.

It’s something we manage—carefully, responsibly, and with purpose.