Vidalia Burn Ban Lifted
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
On November 21, the City of Vidalia announced the decision to lift the burn ban, which has been in place since Hurricane Helene hit on September 27. Upon lifting this ban, Mayor Doug Roper stressed the importance of continuing to follow the city ordinance regarding burning for the wellbeing of the city.
According to the ordinance, burning within the city is permitted from 10 a.m. until one hour before sunset daily from October 1 until April 30 each year, except for recreational burning in firepits, which is allowed between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on any day within the year. Burning is not allowed within the city limits on windy days, or on days when the weather is cloudy, overcast, or rainy because the smoke from the fire will remain close to the ground.
Fires must be attended at all times by someone who is at least 21 years old, and a water hose that may reach the fire must be on hand and ready to use if needed. Petroleum-based substances, such as gasoline or diesel, may not be used to start the fires, and burning should never occur in burn barrels.
The ordinance prohibits the burning of garbage, which includes household trash, Styrofoam, stumps, cardboard boxes, kudzu vines, root balls, and more. Only clean, natural wood may be burned; wood that has been painted or varnished, or wood with glues added (such as plywood), cannot be within the fire.
Burning piles may not be moved from one property to another for the purpose of burning, and must be at least 25 feet from the roadway of streets with speed limits faster than 35 mph. Piles must also be 50 feet from all structures, wooden fences, or limbs with a diameter bigger than 6 inches, and cannot be bigger than 3 feet wide and 3 feet long.
Citizens must get special permission from the Vidalia Fire Department to have a bonfire, and the blaze must be 100 feet from structures and property lines. These fires must be completely out by 11 p.m.
Anyone may be required to extinguish their fire if it affects another person’s enjoyment of life or health of their property negatively. Those who do not adhere to the outlines within the ordinance may be subject to fines from the city.
To gain a permit to have a bonfire, or for questions regarding burning in the city, call the Vidalia Fire Department’s nonemergency line at (912) 537-4388.
