Dalton Fire Department Issues Burn Ban For City
Monday, November 13th, 2023
UPDATE (12/13/23) - The burn ban is being allowed to expire in Dalton. However, many types of outdoor burning are still not allowed without a permit from the Dalton Fire Department. For more information on burn permits, click here.
The Dalton Fire Department has issued a temporary emergency burn ban for the City of Dalton that takes effect at 6:30 pm on November 13th. This ban will prohibit all outdoor burning including camp fires or cooking fires and it will remain in effect for at least 30 days. The Whitfield County Fire Department has also issued a burn ban that encompasses all unincorporated areas of Whitfield County.
This burn ban is in response to extremely dry conditions in the Dalton area. Rains over the weekend have not had a significant impact on the risk of fires in our area. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning including:
- brush fires
- agricultural burning
- burning trees
- burning debris
- campfires
- open cooking fires
- warming fires
- bonfires
- all use of fireworks by consumers
Presently, Whitfield County has 49% of land in an Extreme Drought, and 51% in an Exceptional Drought area. According to state records, October was the 8th Driest Month in the last 129 years, and 2023 the 58th Driest Year in the past 129 years. Similar conditions were present in 2016, when fires impacted our community.
Violation of this local burn ban could result in a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. In addition, the Violator could be held responsible for any damages resulting from an out-of-control fire. The Dalton Fire Department has been instructed to extinguish all fires when encountered.
