Georgia Forestry Commission gives annual report to Dougherty County Commission

ALBANY — Officials with the Georgia Forestry Commission went before the Dougherty County Commission this week to give an update on the state of the county’s forestry resources from its 2017-18 annual report.

Forest Ranger Stacey Rayburn presented the report to the commission on Monday. It stated that Dougherty County now has 151,682 acres of forest land under the protection of the forestry commission, and of this, 123,912 acres are privately owned. The Dougherty forestry unit is responsible for wildland fire suppression, the construction of pre-suppression firebreaks and landowner assistance with all forestry-related activities.

The report also noted: 63 agricultural burns, 1,443 agricultural acres burned, 292 silviculture burns, 21,141 silvicultural acres burned, 304 land-clearing burns and 1,802 acres burns for land clearing in Dougherty County over the fiscal year. Also, 1,912 online permits were issued in the county and 4,994 calls were made to 1-877-OK2-BURN.

“There are probably around 75-80 percent that have a permit (when they burn),” Rayburn said when asked about the number of people complying with burn permit regulations.

Under the direction of the chief forest ranger, the Dougherty/Lee unit employs three full-time rangers who operate equipment in the suppression of wildland forest fires. They also maintain their firefighting equipment so that it is in a 24-hour state of readiness to respond to wildland fire incidents.

The County Commission contributes $12,391 to the forestry commission annually toward the cost of protecting forested lands within the county. State funds are allocated annually by the General Assembly to make up the remainder of the forestry commission’s operating costs, the report said.

The forestry commission, through its staff of county rangers and forestry management personnel, provides services to landowners, land managers and the general public. These services include countywide forest fire protection and prevention, forest management practices, forest management plans, reforestation advice and assistance, educational programs and other topics of interests related to the field of forestry.

Forest protection activities in the county during the year included 16 wildfires in the county with 68.37 acres burned. The average fire size was 4.27 acres. During fire season — which forestry officials told the county commission is traditionally during the fall, winter and early spring months — as weather allows, aerial detection flights are conducted over the county.

The report said 10 of the wildfires in Dougherty County were caused by debris burning, two by incendiary, two by machine use and two were miscellaneous. Twenty structures with an approximate value of $1.3 million were threatened by the wildfire activity, and two outbuildings were damaged adding up to $4,200 in damage.

“The firebreak assistance program is a service provided to landowners for the purposes of establishing fire breaks on their property for a minimal hourly charge,” the report said. “This allows the property owner to conduct controlled burning activities in a safe and secure manner and also protects their property in the event of a wildfire encroachment.

“The cost to the property owner for this service is $75 per hour for plowing or $95 per hour for harrowing, with a $60 round trip transportation fee.”

In the county, there were nine requests for service, and 565 acres burned, through the forestry commission’s burning assistance program.

“The burning assistance program is a service provided to the landowner by the Georgia Forestry Commission whereby, at the request of the property owner, commission personnel will offer onsite assistance with their burning operation,” the report said.” The landowner receives valuable information on the proper burning techniques that will allow them to conduct their burns in the safest manner possible.

“Fire suppression equipment is made available at the burn site in the event of a fire emergency. This service is subject to the availability of manpower and equipment. There also is a minimal charge for this service.”

Fire prevention activities conducted by the forestry commission included distribution of updated fire weather forecasts, increasing awareness about available services and programs, informing residents about laws governing outdoor burning, promotion, and construction of fire breaks. Twenty-seven programs were presented with 902,277 people in attendance.