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Increased fire danger this weekend
Fire danger pic

Due to dry weather conditions there will be an increased risk of wildfire in northern Georgia this weekend, according to Dawson County Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford and representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

Both have warned that the current drought and low levels of humidity have substantially increased the chance of wildfire, and the trend will continue into the weekend, as no rain is expected for at least 10 days.

According to Swafford, the fire risks are extremely high and the department is urging citizens to take caution.

"We implore people not to have any type of outdoor fire until we get some rain," Swafford said.

According to NOAA, a cold front late Thursday night brought gusty winds and a dry air mass to the area. Winds up to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph were expected on Friday.

Humidity will be low into the weekend, and drop as low as around 25 percent on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. NOAA also said that fuel moisture is very low, which makes things burn very easily without resistance.

Swafford said that the Georgia Forestry Commission has instituted a fire ban and is not issuing any burn permits at this time. The county is discouraging any fire that would normally require a permit.