A 2,700-acre fire in North Georgia prompted officials to close some key trails in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
The Rough Ridge fire in the Cohutta Wilderness Area is being managed differently than others, the Rome News-Tribune reported.
“It’s remote, very rugged, and we are extremely dry,” said Jeff Gardner, a ranger with the U.S. Forest Service who is based in Chatsworth. He said the fire, which is burning north of Ellijay and west of Blue Ridge, started from lightning.
Camping is still allowed in the area, but campfires are limited to designated metal fire rings in defined campgrounds, the paper reported. Camp stoves are still allowed for hikers and campers in undeveloped areas.
Some of the popular trails in the area, such as the Rough Ridge Trail, are going to be closed.
Statewide, there were 37 new fires since Wednesday, including 13 in North Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission spokeswoman Wendy Burnett said.
Conditions that can spark new fires persist. The National Weather Service issued a “red flag warning” for areas north of a Columbus-to-Macon-to-Washington line for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.
Wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph are possible, the NWS alert said. And there still is no significant rain in the forecast.
“Basically, this takes us from bad to worse,” Burnett said.
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