City burn ban still in effect

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville's Interim Fire Chief Jon Canada cautioned city residents Sunday not to expect the outdoor burn ban in the city to be lifted anytime soon.

Canada's statement comes just days after Hall County announced it was lifting its burn ban.

The annual state-mandated summertime burn ban went into effect last May for a number of north Georgia counties but was lifted in October, although cities and counties had the option of extending it. That's what Hall and Forsyth counties and Gainesville did.

Canada cited a more dense population in the city than in the county as one of the factors in not lifting the ban in the city.

Hall County began issuing outdoor burn permits again late last week; Forsyth County was to begin issuing them Monday.