John Oxford
MOULTRIE — Colquitt County has gone several weeks without significant rain, and the dryness makes everything more susceptible to wildfire. Fire officials urge residents to use caution and to abstain from burning outdoors while things are so dry.
Denny Sellers, chief ranger of the Georgia Forestry Commission office in Colquitt County, said the county has not had any measurable rainfall since 0.65 inches fell on March 2. That lack of rain for the last five weeks has caused area “fuel moisture” — the water content of combustibles like pine straw and tree limbs — to be close to zero.
Sellers said the Georgia Forestry Commission will not issue burn permits until the county gets some ground moisture. He hopes to be able to reissue permits after this weekend when strong winds and a chance of rain are expected, especially Saturday night and into Sunday.
Another factor in the dry conditions has been below average humidity, Sellers said. The average humidity level for early spring is about 30 percent, but the county has seen humidity levels typically between 17 and 22 percent. The high winds that have been blowing lately can also make for a serious wildfire.
“Low humidity and high winds together are the virtual elements for a wildfire,” Sellers said. “The fuel moisture about at zero is the reason why fires have burned so intensely.”
Sellers said the county has had 62 wildfires since June 2006, which is a little above average. Even controlled burns are hard to keep in check in such dry and windy conditions.
“As soon as we get some moisture in the ground,” Sellers said, “we’ll start reissuing permits. We ask residents to abstain from burning anything.”
In the City of Moultrie, burn permits can be issued, but anyone who receives one is urged to use caution. Moultrie Fire Department Fire Marshall Lavon Cooper said permits can be obtained by calling 985-7557 and asking for the officer in charge.
Once the officer in charge comes out and clears issuing a permit, Cooper said any and all natural vegetative yard debris, such as limbs, leaves and pine straw, from one’s own yard can be burned. Anyone wanting to burn yard debris is required to get a permit.
“Due to the dry weather,” Cooper said, “we encourage caution while burning and to have someone stay at the fire while it is lit. Have a garden hose available in case the fire gets out of control.”
To contact the Georgia Forestry Commission with questions, call 229-891-7120. For yard-debris-only permit status or to obtain a permit, call 1877-OK2-BURN (1-877-652-2876).
