With wildfires raging out of control in several locations in Southeast Georgia, Coffee County Sheriff Fred Cole issued a statement Wednesday morning stating that all of Coffee County is under a burn ban. Anyone who refuses to obey the ban will receive an expensive ticket.
Firefighters with the Coffee County Fire Department are in Echols County helping with a major fire down there. Douglas Fire Department firefighters have also been dispatched to Brantley County to assist with another enormous fire over there.
Dry, windy conditions have created a perfect storm of sorts for wildfires. All it takes is a small spark or ember to ignite a blaze that can burn through thousands of acres in a hurry. In Echols County, for example, the fire is just over 10 percent contained and spans 16,500 acres. The smoke in Coffee County today is a testament to the size of those fires – that’s their smoke coming this way.
Sheriff Cole’s complete statement is as follows:
“We are currently under a burn ban here in Coffee County, and I want to make this clear to everyone. If you start a fire, you will be getting a ticket. This isn’t a suggestion, and it’s not something we’re going to overlook. Conditions right now make it too dangerous and one bad decision can put lives and property at risk. I’m asking everyone to use good judgment and do their part but understand this — if you choose to ignore the burn ban, we will strictly enforce it.”
