High Fire Danger Continues with Expected High Winds

     Most of Georgia remains at an elevated fire danger risk today (US National Weather Service Peachtree City Georgia). High winds mixed with dry fuels in the woods is a recipe for high wildfire danger. 

     The public is requested to be careful with campfires and consider delaying debris burning activities until conditions improve. All it takes is a spark or ember to start a wildfire. Do your part, don’t let a wildfire start. The wet weather received mid-week across Georgia was much needed but dry conditions are returning quickly. Embers from a campfire, debris burn pile, and field burning can travel a long distance with just a little wind. With any planned fire, practice safety by monitoring the weather for changes, especially wind, have tools like a shovel or rake on hand to catch embers, and stay with your fire until it is cool to the touch.

     A Fire Prevention and Education Team is working across northwest Georgia to share information with residents and visitors about wildfire safety and how to prevent the next wildfire. “Everybody needs to be aware of the dangers of wildfire,” said Mark Wiles, team leader for the national fire prevention education team. “There are a lot of things people can do to protect homes, property, and public land from wildfire. During the ongoing focus on fire prevention, our goal is to provide the knowledge people need to keep our public lands and communities safe from wildfire.” As Smokey Bear teaches us, nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people and could have been prevented. 

     Just in the past week, the Georgia Forestry Commission reports close to 500 fires burned more than 6,000 acres. This includes several human-caused wildfires on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. Wildland firefighters have made significant progress in wildfire suppression response efforts to the Chestnut Mountain, Old Federal, and Bowater wildfires on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Murray, Gordon and Whitfield Counties. Chestnut Mountain Fire The Chestnut Mountain fire remains at 353 acres in size, a reduction in acres resulting from more accurate mapping. The wildfire began near the Chestnut Mountain Shooting Range on February 26. The fire is under investigation but appears to be human caused. Forest Service Road 212 (Chestnut Mountain FSR212A and Turkey Creek FSR212B) are closed. The Chestnut Mountain Shooting Range will open March 8.Old Federal 2 Fire 

     Firefighters are continuing to monitor the Old Federal 2 wildfire in Murray County, located along Old Federal Road approximately 5 miles southeast of Chatsworth, Ga. The Old Federal fire started in the evening on February 27 and is approximately 96 acres in size. Firefighters from the United States Forest Service, Georgia Forestry Commission, and Murray County Fire Department created containment lines around the fire and continue to mop up any hotspots if found. Bowater Fire Firefighters responded to the Bowater wildfire on February 27. Located near the Pocket Recreation Area approximately 10 miles west of Resaca, Ga., the 50-acre Bowater wildfire has not had any fire activity since February 27. Firefighters continue to patrol the area to monitor for any potential fire activity. 

     Sign up to get the news and updates you want about Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest delivered to your inbox at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/CONFemailsVisit the website for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest for fire updates (www.fs.usda.gov/conf) and on Facebook (@ChattOconeeNF).Watch Smokey Bear: "Smokey is Within - Friends"https://youtu.be/jGqz16h2HV8?si=L5Xv93Aa339av-fd Media contact: 706-205-0274, 2025.chestnutmountain@firenet.govNews release (with links): https://conta.cc/4i4TIuOMurray County Public SafetyWhitfield County FireGordon County Emergency Management AgencyWalker County Sheriff's OfficeChattooga County EMA E911Catoosa County GovernmentFloyd County E-911 GA