FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2016
City of Milton confirms increase in outdoor fires
Fire marshal urges extreme caution to residents
MILTON, Ga.,
- Since the end of the state-issued burn ban on October 1, 2016, Milton Fire-Rescue has seen a tenfold increase in outdoor fire calls over the same period last year. While there has been no structural loss due to outdoor fires and the acreage burned per incident remains relatively small, the continued dry weather still poses a threat to the community.
More than one-third (42.9%) of the total brushfire calls reported since October 1, 2016 are direct violations of the Milton burn ban issued late last month. Further analysis of the outdoor fire causes in Milton reveals that another third (33.3%) of the outdoor brushfire calls were fires that quickly spread beyond a resident's control. In some cases, a resident was managing a small recreational fire while others involved a resident burning yard debris in violation of the burn ban.
The remaining brushfire calls have unidentified causes or causes that are under investigation, and may include fireworks and other careless or unintentional acts such as improper disposal of cigarette butts. Milton's Fire Marshal Matt Marietta continues to urge Milton citizens to be extra vigilant by minimizing possible brushfire causes, including careless use of fireworks, improperly discarded smoking materials and large or unattended outdoor recreational fires.
While firework use is legal according to state law, they cannot be used after 9:00 p.m. and should not be used in an unsafe manner including use that could light the very dry brush found throughout the city. Marietta urges, "Do not use them in or around brush, trees or leaves. And remember, what goes up must come down!"
Based on severe drought conditions, the city of Milton issued an indefinite burn-ban last month prohibiting all yard waste and land-clearing burning in the city of Milton. Those violating the burn ban are at risk for receiving a citation.
If there is a safety concern regarding an active outdoor burn, illegal use of fireworks, or other possible fire-code violations, citizens should call 911 and a fire crew or police officer will respond.
##
