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The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resourcesrestricts open burning from May through September of each year.

Why?

During the warm weather seasons, the particulates in an open-air fire become more significant contributors to unhealthy levels of ozone. By banning open fires during those months in heavily populated Atlanta and the majority of its surrounding counties, there is a reduction in the amount of pollutants.

Once the weather has turned cooler, certain types of outdoor burning is once again permitted in north Georgia counties. Georgia residents that want to do an open burn from October through April 2018, need to check with their county ordinances on outdoor burning.

The following types of burning can be done without a permit:

• Leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation
• Fires that provide warmth
• Fires that cook food
• Recreational fires in an outdoor fireplace

Always check with your county before you do any sort of large surface, outdoor burning! If you need a permit, visit http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/online-permits/index.cfm.

General safety tips for any type of open burning:

• Gather the necessary supplies for controlling the fire—a rake, a shovel and a water hose connected to a good water source.
• Find a burn spot that can be easily controlled in a level area, away from any buildings.
• Start small.
• Make sure all the materials being burned are natural. No man-made products (such as processed lumber) that might contain chemicals that ignites or gives off noxious fumes.
• No burning within 20 feet of flammable or combustible materials.
• Never leave an outdoor fire burning unattended.

An outdoor fire burning out of control can threaten the safety of your home and family. And in Georgia, illegal outdoor burning can get you in a world of trouble. Don’t play with fire—play it safe!

Check out ourwebsite for information about fire protectioninside your home! You can add monitoring for fire, smoke, and heat at no additional monthly cost.

It’s that time of year again.

Most of us are “social distancing” at home and have some time on our hands. So we don’t really have many excuses not to spring clean, do we?

The fact is, taking the time to thoroughly clean and inspect your home – especially with these 6 pointers – you’ll have a shiny, fresh, and SAFE place to enjoy during Georgia’s beautiful spring and summer seasons.

1. Be aware of your security system when you’re redecorating.

Does your spring to-do list include a new big-screen TV or furniture purchase? Re-arranging or changing furniture and appliances may cause a change in the efficiency of your security system. Make sure that when you re-decorate, your security cameras are not blocked and your motion detector sensors are clear.

2. Check your window locks.

Spring is a good time to clean the interior and exterior glass—it’s safer when you can see more clearly! It’s also the perfect time to open and close every window and make sure the locks and seals are properly securing the window. If any of the locks seem loose, tighten or replace them. It’s also a good time to install inexpensive window pins. They’re available at any home improvement store, and are easy to operate—just pull the pin out to unlock and open the window.

The next 4 tips are to prevent a fire in the home. EMC Security will monitor for fire for no additional monthly cost. You will have to install smoke detectors specific for monitoring but it’s well worth the small investment.

3. Check batteries on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you read this tip a lot when you’re scanning articles about home security and maintenance, it’s for a good reason. These detectors could mean the difference between life and death. According to the Consumer Products Safety Division, two-thirds of all home fires occurred in residences without working smoke detectors. It’s also a good time to test your smoke alarms.

4. Clean your light fixtures.

Not only will your home look brighter, but you’ll also see better—and that’s a big safety plus! Dust those hard-to-reach chandeliers and ceiling fans thoroughly. An accumulation of dust and dirt can cause operating issues, which could lead to big trouble if there’s a short-circuit in the wiring. One spark could start a fire!

5. Clean out your fireplace.

If you’ve got a wood-burning fireplace in your home, it’s time to call in a chimney expert to make sure the flue is clear and there’s no creosote buildup. Discard any ash, clean the grate and surrounding areas, and close the flue. A clean fireplace will freshen the air in your home.

6. Clean around your refrigerator and washer-dryer.

Spring is a great time to pull your fridge out from the wall and give the floor behind it and around it a good cleaning. Sweep, wipe and mop as much as you can. Take a brush/duster specifically designed to clean the coils in major appliances and give it a good deep-cleaning. The amount of dust that gets into the bottom of a refrigerator is astounding. And when you’re doing the same to your washer-dryer combo, use that brush to clean out the dryer vent. Make sure you’re in the habit of cleaning your lint screen after every time you run your dryer. Remember, anywhere you’ve got dust and major electrical equipment, you’ve got the potential for a fire.

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In the warm weather months, many Saturday mornings in Atlanta are heralded with the drone of the lawnmower. How many of these lawnmower owners have taken the time to make sure their machine has been stored safely? And how many know the fire hazards surrounding lawnmower storage and repair?

Be informed! Here’s what you need to know about storage, handling the gasoline, and operating your lawnmower safely this spring.

Before the first mow:

1. If you don’t do maintenance yourself, take your lawnmower to a shop for tune-ups and repairs.
2. Make sure the blades are sharp and not damaged.
3. Make sure the blade guards are in place
4. Make sure your lawn is dry before mowing. Damp grass can damage the mower.
5. Check the gas and oil. If there is gasoline left over from last summer and you didn’t use a fuel stabilizer, it will need to be changed.
6. Make sure the emergency shut off valve is working and not damaged.
7. Check the wheels and make sure they roll easily and aren’t loose enough to come off while you’re mowing.
8. Replace the fuel line at least every other year to prevent the hazard caused by rotten fuel lines leaking or sending rubber bits into the carburetor.

While you mow:

1. If the blade or grasses chute needs to be cleaned, stop the mower engine. Never adjust, clear obstructions, or place any part of your body under a running lawn mower.
2. Disconnect the spark plug before reaching under the mower or before turning it up to look under it.
3. Don’t use the trick of taping the shut off handle down so you can run the mower without holding it. You’ll lose control of your mower.
4. Cut across hills and slopes, not up and down.
5. If you need to add gas in the middle of a mow, stop the lawnmower and let it cool for at least 20 minutes—longer is preferable. A hot engine can ignite the gas fumes or any gasoline that spills.
6. Empty the grass catcher device often so the mower won’t tip over—with you!
7. Watch your oil level. If the level of your gas tank drops while the engine is at rest or you see the level of your engine oil has risen, or if you smell gas on your dipstick, do not use the machine until it can be repaired.
8. If your engine spews liquid out of the muffler at startup, or begins to falter or smoke when running, your carburetor may have failed and needs to be inspected or repaired. If the gas has mixed with the oil, you may think it is just oil leaking, but it can be the oil and gas has mixed. Do not use until you’ve’ identified and corrected the problem.

Cleanup:

1. Allow the mower to cool for at least 20 minutes. Take this time to rake or clean up the yard.
2. After disconnecting the spark plug wire, clean off any buildup of dirt or grass from the mower. It only gets harder to do that later.
3. Once the mower is cooled, fill the oil and gas levels to the recommended marks.
4. Make sure you close the lid tightly on the gas can before you put it away.

Safe Storage between uses, and in the off-season:

1. Don’t store gas or other flammables in a storage shed that’s connected to your house.
2. Remove old fuel from the gas tank.
3. Drain the carburetor fuel bowl.
4. Disconnect the battery.
5. Change the oil.
6. Read the owner’s manual for your brand’s exact recommendations.
7. Add fuel stabilizer to your gas can at each fill up at the gas station. It prevents water from forming in the gasoline.
8. Smell for fresh gasoline. If you smell fresh gas on your machine or storage area, roll the machine outside. Empty the gas, or call a pro for service.
9. If you suspect any problems with your lawnmower, or you smell gas after using it, do not store it indoors. Call an expert for help.
10. Call EMC Security to make sure your home is protected with fire detection devices.