Union County Fire & Rescue Urges Residents to Follow “Take Five” Rules Before Burning Fall Leaves

Union County Fire & Rescue is reminding property owners that fall leaf cleanup often means outdoor burning, and that small, well-managed piles can still become wildfires if safety rules are ignored.

Cooler weather and falling leaves typically bring a rise in yard fires as residents clear debris. Most of those burns stay small and contained on private property, the department said. They do produce smoke that can worry neighbors or people passing by, and some escape and become wildfires.

Georgia law allows property owners to burn hand-piled leaves and naturally occurring yard debris if they follow outdoor burning standards set by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Household garbage and other man-made materials may not be burned.

The commission’s “Take Five” campaign uses the acronym S-S-T-A-R for the five points property owners are expected to meet before and during a burn:

• Space: Keep the fire at least 25 feet from woodlands.

• Space: Keep the fire at least 50 feet from any structure.

• Time: Burn only between sunrise and sunset.

• Attendance: A responsible person must stay with the fire until it is completely out.

• Reasonable precautions: Have measures in place so the fire cannot escape. That includes a continuous pressurized water source on site, a man-made or natural barrier to contain the fire, and hand tools or other fire-containing equipment. It also means watching the weather, including red flag warnings, High Fire Danger designations, low humidity, and high winds.

Union County Fire & Rescue said anyone planning to burn hand-piled leaves or yard debris should review the law and the safety requirements before lighting a pile. More information on outdoor burning and the five precautions is available at www.gatrees.org.