GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest will begin conducting prescribed burns across North and central Georgia this spring as part of an effort to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health.
According to Laura Fitzmorris with the Forest Service, prescribed fire operations are expected to continue through May, pending required approvals and favorable weather conditions.
The burns will cover approximately 35,000 acres across 26 counties and four ranger districts. Fitzmorris said the work is designed to reduce overgrown vegetation and hazardous fuels such as leaf litter, fallen trees and brush that accumulate on the forest floor.
The Forest Service uses prescribed fire to protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources and to restore healthy, resilient, fire-adapted forests, Fitzmorris said. A prescribed burn is intentionally set by trained personnel under specific weather conditions to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
Some areas may close to the public for several days during burn operations for safety reasons. Fitzmorris said residents and visitors should watch for warning signs along roads near prescribed fire areas before and during burns.
Residents in surrounding communities may experience smoke. Drivers who encounter smoke on roadways are advised to slow down and turn on their headlights. For updated air quality information, residents can visit AirNow online or use the AirNow mobile app.
Fitzmorris said weather conditions will be evaluated in the hours before each burn. If conditions are not suitable, scheduled burns may be postponed or canceled.
Interactive maps of planned and completed burns for 2026 are available through the Forest Service Southern Region Prescribed Burn Accomplishment Tracker. Additional details and burn unit locations are posted on the forest’s website.
County emergency management agencies will be notified when burning begins, Fitzmorris said.
Residents with questions about specific prescribed burns may contact their nearest ranger district office: Chatsworth at 706-695-6736, Blairsville at 706-745-6928, Lakemont at 706-754-6221, Eatonton at 706-485-7110, or Gainesville at 770-297-3000.
