Wildfires continue to affect the drought-ridden state, including two this weekend in North Georgia.
Officials contained a Cherokee County fire Sunday after it burned about 10 acres between Holly Springs and Woodstock, Georgia Forestry Commission spokeswoman Wendy Burnett said.
No homes were damaged, though officials expect the area to continue to smoke and smolder for some time, she said.
Another fire in Whitfield County near Rocky Face Mountain has burned about 250 acres and remains active, Burnett said. The cause of that fire has not been determined.
“One house is threatened, but thanks to support from the local fire department, we have fire breaks on two sides of it, a road on one side, and our hand crew is maintaining a wet line around it as well,” Burnett said.
With 40 firefighters, the Whitfield County Fire Department has the most resources on it, she said.
Then on Monday afternoon, a brush fire was reported by Channel 2 Action News alongside the Ga. 400 ramp to Holcomb Road. Channel 2 reported the ramp was closed around 5 p.m.
Since Friday, the GFC has responded to 163 wildfires throughout the state and 18 illegal burns, which is when people burn debris without a permit. Permits are unlikely to be issued under drought conditions, and significant rain isn’t expected in Georgia for a few weeks.
Burnett urged people to be cautious this Halloween. Instead of candlelit Jack-O-Lanterns, use a flashlight or electric candle.
“If you are thinking of a Halloween bonfire, you might want to think of another activity instead,” she said.
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