RINGGOLD – The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners has adopted an emergency resolution declaring a ban on all outdoor burning in the county until further notice.

Catoosa County, like surrounding counties in Northwest Georgia, is experiencing a prolonged, extreme drought due to a lack of rainfall. These conditions significantly enhance the danger of brush, forest, and wildfires that pose a serious risk to the property, health, safety, and welfare of Catoosa County Residents. The Catoosa County Fire Department and Georgia Forestry Commission are responding to an increased number of outdoor fires.

This ban applies to all outdoor burning including leaves, brush, debris, campfires, trash burn barrels, and open fire grills. Anyone wishing to report banned outdoor burning should call Catoosa County 911.

This burn ban will remain in effect until the Board of Commissioners repeals the emergency declaration upon the advice of the Catoosa County Fire Department and Georgia Forestry Commission.