Weather Blog: Burn ban coming soon for many Ga. counties

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A burn ban will be in place for 54 counties across Georgia starting May 1. Two of those counties are in the CSRA: Richmond and Columbia.

This annual ban is put in place to help protect lives and property. The state of Georgia experiences unhealthy ozone levels at times during the summer months and having a burn ban in place helps keep the air at a healthier level.

We experience poor air quality in the summer due to less wind, higher temperatures, and more sunlight. Higher temperatures and more sunlight can cause an increase in chemical reactions in the atmosphere and with a lack of winds, those chemicals can hover in the air we breathe. When smoke is added to the atmosphere it can greatly decrease the quality of air at the surface.

Along with adding to air pollution, fires also spread quickly during the dry and hot summer months.

Check out the Environmental Protection Division for the exceptions to the 4-month ban.