As the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) continues its work to protect and sustain Georgia’s forests, experienced leadership remains critical to that mission. Chris Howell brings 17 years of agency experience to his position as Associate Chief of Forest …
As news about the historic South Georgia wildfires continues to improve, firefighting efforts have shifted into the closing stages. Crews are now focused on the “mop-up” phase, which is just as critical as the initial attack. What is mop up? Mop-up is the …
As Georgia’s forest industry positions itself for future growth, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) is providing skilled support to lead the way. Ryan Phillips has been named Associate Chief of Markets and Innovation for GFC, effective June 1, 2026. “ …
The State Forester Burn Ban in South Georgia has been amended, reducing the area to 17 counties. The original ban was implemented on April 22nd, covering 91 counties in southern Georgia where exceptional drought levels and increasing wildfire activity …
Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties. The ban, which has been in place every summer since 2005, affects many of the counties in north and central Georgia (a full …
Blog by: Johnny Sabo, GFC Director In anticipation of elevated wildfire risk following Hurricane Helene and ongoing drought conditions, the Georgia Forestry Commission has spent the past several years strengthening wildfire preparedness, prevention, …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 22, 2026 Georgia’s extreme drought is worsening and the risk of wildfires is rising, especially in southern region of the state. As a result, Georgia’s State Forester today issued a ban on outdoor burning for 91 counties in the …
GFC Guest blog by Gloria Camacho, Director, Georgia Forestry Foundation Georgians are joining more than one billion people in 190+ countries this week to celebrate Earth Day! Wednesday, April 22, 2026 is the 56th anniversary of this global environmental …
Have your conversations turned to “yellow” yet? They will be soon. Pollen time is upon us. And as much as we humans may dislike the dust, birds, bees, and trees really dig it! We’ve shared this information before and it deserves another go’round. As you …
Across Georgia, dry conditions have led to an increase in wildfire activity. When rainfall is limited and vegetation dries out, even the smallest spark can quickly turn into a wildfire. That’s why the Georgia Forestry Commission is urging everyone to use …
PHOTO CAPTION: Roger Todd, Chief Ranger for Charlton County, was presented the 2025 Director’s Award at the State Capitol. L to R (Front Row): Kris Butler, GFC Deputy Director; Roger Todd, Charlton County Chief Ranger; Johnny Sabo, GFC Director L to R ( …
A Coweta County man has been indicted by Georgia Forestry Commission law enforcement officials on charges of failure to pay for natural products and theft by conversion following an investigation into suspected timber theft. Forty-one-year-old Jeremy Evens …
A Union County man is in custody following his arrest by law enforcement officials with the North Carolina Forest Service, with assistance from the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Law Enforcement unit, on wildland arson charges. Forty-eight-year-old Kevin …
Live Oak Champion Tree located in Waycross, Georgia. Georgia’s Arbor Day is the ideal time to celebrate the champions among us – Champion Trees, that is! The Champion Tree Program is a vital initiative that highlights the tallest and most majestic trees …
Georgians across the state will celebrate the benefits of trees in honor of Georgia Arbor Day. Arbor Day is observed annually on the third Friday of the month, which in 2026 falls on February 20. “Arbor Day is a time to recognize the important role trees …
Blog by: Justin Brown, Georgia Forestry Commission Rural Fire Defense Coordinator Every rural fire department has a story—of volunteers stepping up, neighbors helping neighbors, and communities built on resilience. For decades, the Rural Fire Defense …
The people who manage healthy growth of Georgia’s 24-milion acres forestland rely on many tools. They include water, sunshine, good soil, and fire. The application of fire by trained practitioners is known as “prescribed fire” or “good fire,” and it has …
Fighting Fire. Protecting Forests. Serving Georgia. – WE ARE GFC! The words “first responder” bring to mind images of ambulances, EMT’s, and fire trucks screaming up to a blazing house fire or highway wreck. The brave men and women who perform these …
State legislators are taking a hard look at Georgia’s forest industry challenges. A new report details the impacts of recent mill closures to the state’s economy and to affected Georgians. Georgia Tech estimates those closures will strike a $2.9 billion …
A Toombs County man has been jailed on felony arson charges. Forty-nine-year-old Phillip Jones of Vidalia was arrested by Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) law enforcement officers and the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. …
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