Saturday was the last day you could legally burn yard debris until the end of the summer.  The annual “summer burn ban” in Northwest Georgia is designed to improve air quality, according to the EPA and the Georgia Forestry Commission.

While you can burn yard debris during the fall and winter months, it is always illegal to burn household garbage.

So exactly what kind of outdoor fires are permitted during the burn ban?

According to the Georgia EPD:

• Agricultural burning exemption
• Forestry “prescribed burning” exemption – except in the Atlanta metro area
• Campfires or barbeques
• Fire-fighting training exemption, provided appropriate permit is issued
• Operation of open flame equipment exemption
• Explosive disposal in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor Safety Regulations

The Summer Open Burn Ban runs from May 1 – September 30 and includes 54 counties in Georgia – including all of Northwest Georgia