04/22/2026
Good morning, Jenkins County. I just received this from the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Administrative Order Instituting Burn Ban in 91 Counties
WHEREAS: Pursuant to Code Section 12-6-83, the Georgia Forestry Commission, through the Director,
is charged with directing and supervising all forest fire protection work in the state; and
WHEREAS: Code Section 12-6-17 provides that the Director may issue an order banning outdoor
burning in one or more counties when, in his or her judgment, "drought or other conditions" make
controlled burns of "woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible materials" unusually
hazardous; and
WHEREAS: Such an order shall have the force and effect of law; and
WHEREAS: South Georgia is in exceptional drought conditions that continue to worsen; and
WHEREAS: There are presently an unusually large number of active wildfires in the state, many of
which started from outdoor burns; and
WHEREAS: A temporary burn ban is necessary to preserve life and property due to unusually
hazardous conditions.
THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO CODE SECTION 12-6-17, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
That a temporary ban on the burning of any woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible
materials shall go into effect in the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben
Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler,
Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford,
Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock,
Glynn, Grady, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens,
Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery,
Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Schley, Seminole, Stewart,
Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs,
Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, Worth (the "Affected
Counties").
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: That such temporary ban shall apply to all activities subject to regulation by the State
Forestry Commission, including, but not limited to, prescribed silvicultural burns, agricultural
burns, and the burning of leaf piles or yard debris, regardless of whether such activities require
a permit from the State Forestry Commission.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: That no permits for burning shall be issued in the Affected Counties for the duration of
this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: That if one or more provisions in this Order shall be held to be invalid, in violation of
the Georgia Constitution, in violation of Georgia law, or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, violation, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Order,
and, in such case, this Order shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
provision had never been contained within the Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: That no provision of this Order shall limit, infringe, suspend, or supplant any judicial
order, judgment, or decree issued pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or
constitution of the United States, nor shall any person use any provision of this Order as a
defense to an action in violation of a judicial order, judgment, or decree by any court created
pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or Constitution of the United
States.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: That all provisions of this Order shall be effective upon signature and shall be valid
for a period of thirty (30) days, expiring Friday, May 22, 2026, at 11:59 P.M., unless extended by
the Director.
This 22 day of April 2026.
Jo��-. Director, Georgia Forestry Commission
