Governor Deal Issues Ban on Ignition of Fireworks in most Georgia Counties

TUCKER, Ga. – Gov. Nathan Deal has banned the use of fireworks in 110 of Georgia’s 159 counties, including all of metro Atlanta. The governor issued the ban because of wildfires burning across North Georgia.

Deal’s executive order, signed on Nov. 14, cites Georgia’s six-month drought as the cause of numerous wildfires from the Blue Ridge area in Northwest Georgia, to Rabun County in the state’s northeastern corner.

Legislation passed by the General Assembly last year legalizing the sale and use of fireworks in Georgia gives the governor the authority to restrict fireworks during periods of drought.

“Adhering to the governor’s temporary ban on fireworks activities will certainly help reduce the likelihood of an unintended fire from occurring during these times of unprecedented drought conditions,” DeKalb Fire Rescue Chief Darnell Fullum said.