Page 30 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 4 - Fall 2023

“Fall beauty in the forest brings people together outdoors. That creates opportunities to emphasize the value Georgia’s forests bring to our lives, economy and well-being.” —Troy Clymer, Forest Management Chief, GFC
FOR LEAF BURNS,
FOLLOW THE STAR
If you plan to burn the backyard leaf pile, do it safely and legally by remembering GFC’s “Take 5” STAR:
SPACE:
Must have 25+ feet between fire and woodlands.
SPACE:
Must have 50+ feet between fire and structures.
TIME:
Sunrise to sunset.
ATTENDANCE:
The person responsible stays onsite until the fire is completely extinguished and there is no risk of burn escaping.
REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS:
People wishing to burn leaves must have tools/measures in place to prevent escaped fire. These include a continuous pressurized water source on site; a man-made or natural barrier to contain the fire, such as bare soil, rocks, bricks, burn barrel, etc.; hand tools or fire-containing equipment on site, such as a rake, shovel, garden hoe, etc.; awareness of weather concerns, such as NWS red flag warnings, a High Fire Danger designation of Very High or Extreme, and other hazardous conditions like low relative humidity, high winds, etc.
If your fire escapes, you may be held responsible for damages to others’ property!
to GFC’s PR Department. There, the infor- mation is collated into one summary, paired with photos and videos and distrib- uted to media partners and posted online at GATrees.org.
WSB 95.5 FM’s Ashley Frasca, who hosts the station’s Saturday morning “Green and Growing” program, said she is proud to partner with GFC for this service to her listeners. Frasca is joined on air by Georgia Forestry Commission Urban Forester Seth Hawkins every Saturday during leaf season to summarize conditions and provide insight into forestry in Georgia.
“Fall is magnificent in Georgia and it is a tourism draw,” Frasca said. “Leaf Watch reports bring awareness about trees and the important role trees play in our lives. Plus, it encourages people to get out of the house, helps kids learn stuff, and just gets folks outside!”
Frasca is very active on social media, where she spreads the news about weekly North Georgia leaf conditions. David Chandley promotes the feature as well, as does the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Social media engagement and
smartphone convenience make it easy to find current information pushed out by the GFC.
“Fall beauty in the forest brings people together outdoors,” said GFC Forest Man- agement Chief Troy Clymer. “That cre- ates opportunities to emphasize the value Georgia’s forests bring to our lives, econ- omy and well-being. Well-managed forests provide these opportunities for our gen- eration and for the generations to come.”
Forester Ben Cobb said last year was considered by many as “one of the best of the past five,” and with autumn unfolding, people are weighing in on the 2023 leaf season. As long-time leaf watch- ers, the GFC maintains that mild or cold, rainy or dry, fall in north Georgia never disappoints!
STASIA KELLY IS A MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST WITH THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION. SHE IS FOCUSED ON TELLING THE STORY
OF FORESTRY AND EXPLORING THE IMMENSE IMPACT OF THE INDUSTRY ON GEORGIA’S ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND HERITAGE.
FOREST RESOURCE SERVICES INC.
Specializing in
Land and Timber Management & Sales Land Management:
Clearing, Mulching, Site Prep
BOBBY D. BROWN
Registered Forester GA Number 2164 Licensed Realtor in GA Number 165520
20364 GA Hwy 3 Thomasville, GA 31792
229.221.3016 • brown@ftrealty.com
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