Pike County Fire Department

10/06/2026

10/01/2026

🔥 Need a burn permit? There's now an easier way to get one!

Beginning TODAY, the Georgia Forestry Commission is offering a new online burn permit system, making it more convenient to obtain permits for eligible agricultural, land-clearing and silvicultural burns.

💻 Apply from your computer or phone.
⏰ Available daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📅 Permits are issued for the current day only.

The new system follows the same local restrictions and safety requirements already in place. If burning isn't permitted in your area or for your burn category that day, the system will let you know.

One important note: Certified Prescribed Burn Managers requesting silvicultural permits must enter their certification number. Those without a number will be directed to contact GFC for assistance.

And remember, permits are not required for hand-piled natural vegetation, but Georgia's SSTAR safety requirements still apply.

Learn more about this new service and how it works:
https://gatrees.org/gfc-launches-online-burn-permit-system/

09/29/2026

🔥OUTDOOR BURNING UPDATE🔥

Beginning Thursday, October 1, the seasonal outdoor burning ban will be lifted in Pike County. Residents may burn hand-piled natural vegetation without a permit from October 1 through April 30. Please refer to the following outdoor burning rules for guidance.

Must always be attended by a competent adult (you are responsible for your fire)

Must have an adequate extinguishing agent on hand (garden hose, dirt, sand, water, fire extinguisher, fire break cut around the perimeter of the area to be burned)

Must be located 50 feet from any structure or 15 feet if placed in an approved container (55-gallon drum, metal or concrete fire pit)

*Must not contain any household garbage or petroleum-based products such as tires, plastics, or any material that gives off black smoke or strange odors. This also includes any treated or processed wood product. Other solid waste such as construction materials (shingles, siding, framing, etc.) are also not allowable. Only natural vegetation (limbs, leaves, or grass) is permissible.

Must be extinguished by nightfall. Consider starting the burn at an earlier time if it involves large amounts of yard debris that may require additional time to complete burning!

REMEMBER:

Agriculture, silviculture, and land clearing burns for residential or commercial development DO require notification to the Georgia Forestry Commission AND A PERMIT.

The person responsible for a fire may be held liable for damage to adjacent properties resulting from an escaped fire. Unlawful burn notices or citations may also be issued if the safety requirements are not followed or the burn contains *illegal items.

For more information see the link below.

🔥 The North Georgia summer burn ban ends October 1—but safe burning requirements don’t.

Georgia EPD’s annual outdoor burning restrictions will be lifted October 1 in 54 counties across north and central Georgia. The restrictions have been in place since May 1 to help protect air quality during the summer ozone season.

If you plan to burn hand-piled natural vegetation or yard debris, a GFC burn permit is not required—but Georgia law still requires specific safety precautions. That’s where SSTAR comes in:

⭐ S – Space: 25+ feet from woodlands
⭐ S – Space: 50+ feet from structures
⭐ T – Time: Sunrise to sunset
⭐ A – Attendance: Stay with the fire until it is completely extinguished
⭐ R – Reasonable Precautions: Have the tools and measures in place to prevent an escaped fire

And remember: debris burning that gets out of control is the leading cause of wildfire in Georgia. Burners are responsible for their fires, so check conditions before you light and know the rules for your type of burn.

Read the full announcement:
https://gatrees.org/north-georgia-burn-ban-to-be-lifted-october-1-2/

Safe burning requirements:
https://gatrees.org/burn-permits-and-notifications/

09/22/2026

08/16/2026

Two members of our department. Both named Kevin. Both with a significant need. Please lift them up in prayer. Pray for their families. I have posted their stories in the comments.

Kevin Slone has been diagnosed with Alport syndrome, a genetic kidney disease that has caused his kidneys to fail. He needs a living kidney transplant to survive.

Kevin Gilham has an aggressive form of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. They have moved into the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Northside where Kevin continues to receive blood transfusions around the clock.

08/09/2026

Consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to Pike County Times to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. You can also donate through www.venmo.com/u/pikecountytimes, $p...

04/30/2026

🚫 Annual Summer Burn Ban Begins May 1

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s annual summer burn ban goes into effect tomorrow for 54 counties, primarily in and around metro Atlanta.

This seasonal ban is in place each year to help protect air quality during the summer months and will remain in effect through October 1.

⚠️ What this means:
➡️ Open burning is not permitted in the affected counties during this time
➡️ The ban is separate from current wildfire-related restrictions in other parts of the state

If you live in or near metro Atlanta, be sure to check if your county is included and plan accordingly.

🔗 Read the full release and view the county list:
https://epd.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-04-29/annual-ban-open-burning

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

04/23/2026

🔥 Wildfire Update – Georgia
Today, the Georgia Forestry Commission responded to 34 new wildfires, burning 75 acres statewide.
This does not include:
• The Pineland Rd Fire, now estimated at 29,606 acres and 10% contained
• The Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County, now estimated at 4,438 acres and 15% contained
With ongoing drought conditions and no significant rainfall in sight, wildfire activity remains elevated across Georgia.
⚠️ Safety Reminders:
• If you do not need to be in or near an active fire area, please stay out
• 🚁 No drones — flying drones near wildfires is illegal and can ground firefighting aircraft
• Use caution on roadways where smoke may be present
• Follow all instructions from local officials, including road closures and any potential evacuations
We know families have already been impacted, and our thoughts are with those who have lost homes and property.
We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters and first responders working around the clock in these challenging conditions, and to our local, state, and federal partners, as well as communities across Georgia, for their continued support.
Every call, every acre, and every response matters — and so does prevention.
Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

04/22/2026

The Pike County Fire Department and Pike County Emergency Management Agency have issued a county wide burn ban until further notice.

After consulting with various state agencies about this we agree it is the proper thing to do. Due to the extreme dry conditions, ongoing drought and having limited resources since most state agencies have been pulled to South Georgia, it has become very dangerous to have outdoor burning. We have had several local fires recently that have been difficult to put out due to these conditions.

This is being done to protect property in Pike County. We are hoping the rain this weekend will improve conditions and we will reevaluate the ban as we get some rain. We continue to pray for those in South Georgia.