Forest fires in the North Georgia mountains cast a haze over Floyd County Monday and the smoke is expected to continue today.
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City issued a special weather hazard statement warning of unhealthy conditions for children, people sensitive to smoke and anyone with heart or lung disease.
Rome-Floyd County Fire Chief Troy Brock said there were several local fires over the weekend but nothing serious by 7 p.m. Monday.
Concerned residents have been vigilant in reporting potential problems, he said, however, he asked that callers have some idea of where the flames are.
“We were running on smoke-scare calls all day,” he said. “We want to protect our citizens, but we can’t use our resources on unidentifiable sources. It pulls us away from real emergencies.”
Since Sept. 1, the department has battled about 200 blazes due to the drought and low humidity, Brock said. The Rome City Commission adopted a complete ban on outdoor burning Monday, bolstering the ban adopted by the Floyd County Commission last week.
Barbecue grills and smokers are allowed, but campfires, fire pits and other open flames are barred until the ban is rescinded.
“It’s too risky,” Brock said. “If it puts off an ember right now, there’s going to be a large fire.”
Floyd County has received less than a half an inch of rain since Sept. 1, according to the University of Georgia Weather Network.
There are three nearby fires affecting Floyd County air, according to Georgia Forestry Commission spokesman Seth Hawkins — one at Rocky Face near Dalton and two on Lookout Mountain in Walker and Dade counties.
“We’re hoping to have the Rocky Face fire out by (Monday) night,” he said. “That’s burned about 750 acres.”
The other two are expected to burn for some time.
Hawkins said one on Lookout Mountain had burned about 100 acres by Monday and was about 25 percent contained. Crews think it will get another 50 acres before it’s under control.
The big one started on Tatum Gulf Road north of Menlo and had burned 1,325 acres by Monday afternoon.
“We’re expecting it to get up to 3,000 acres,” Hawkins said. “It’s on the side of the mountain; there’s no way we can get down to it.”
There are about 160 homes in the area and firefighters were going house-to-house, spraying each of them down and clearing firebreaks. Lookout Heights, a subdivision of about 60 houses, was evacuated as a precaution Sunday.
Hawkins said fire departments and forestry crews from around the state are up there and by late Monday no homes had been lost.
“It’s been amazing to watch, how many houses they’ve been able to save,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Floyd County, a Sunday grass and woods fire in Dublin Court in Shannon burned about 45 acres and destroyed an abandoned mobile home, according to Battalion Chief Gene Proctor.
“No one was injured or displaced,” Proctor said. “Monday morning, some stuff in the middle of that area started burning again, but crews were able to take care of it.”
And Fire Marshal Johnie Evans said someone started bonfires on the 2000 block of the Alabama Highway about 7:30 a.m. Monday.
“The fires were extinguished and they were told about the burn ban,” he said.
Proctor said the lack of moisture in the air contributes to the risk.
“Anything that is close to igniting, is igniting,” he said.
Staff writer Kristina Wilder contributed to this report.
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