GAINESVILLE, GA - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) today announced a lift on the campfire ban previously issued on May 26, 2007. All affected northeast Georgia Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) have been cleared for campfire usage but WRD officials are reminding campers to heed the following safety tips when monitoring campfires in designated camping areas:

• Clear a five-foot area around the fire ring down to the soil.
• Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near by.
• Stack extra wood upwind and away from the fire.
• After lighting, do NOT discard the match until it is cold.
• Never leave a campfire unattended - not even for a minute.
• Flammable fuels should never be used to ignite fires and should never be stored near fire.
• Do NOT use lanterns or cook stoves inside tents.

The campfire ban has been lifted on the following WMAs in northeast

Georgia: Allen Creek, Blue Ridge, Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Cooper's Creek, Dawson Forest, Don Carter, Hart County, Lake Burton, Lake Russell, Swallow Creek, Warwoman and Wilson Shoals.

In addition, the United States Forestry Service (USFS) has also lifted their fire ban on National Forest area east of Highway 5 and Highway 515, and on the Oconee National Forest.

The following northwest Georgia WMAs are still affected by the May 26 campfire ban: Allatoona, Berry College, Carters Lake, Chestatee, Coosawattee, Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, JL Lester, Johns Mountain, McGraw Ford, Otting, Paulding Forest, Pinelog, Rich Mountain, Sheffield and Zahnd.

For more information regarding the campfire ban or to learn more about camping opportunities across north Georgia, contact the WRD Region I Game Management office (Northwest Georgia) at (706) 295-6041 or the WRD Region II Game Management office (Northeast Georgia) at (770) 535-5700 or visit

www.georgiawildlife.com. ###