04/22/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฌ: ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ
The City of Richmond Hill has experienced prolonged dry weather, resulting in drought conditions. These drought conditions have significantly increased the risk of wildfires and the spread of uncontrolled fires. Open burning of yard debris poses a serious threat to public safety, property, and natural resources during periods of extreme dryness; and the City of Richmond Hill desires to take reasonable and necessary measures to reduce fire hazards and protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.
๐ญ. ๐ง๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐. ๐๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฏ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐, ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ฏ๐, ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น, ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น ๐ฎ๐ฎ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ.
2. Prohibited Activities. No person shall ignite or allow the burning of yard debris outdoors.
3. Exemptions. This shall not apply to:
--> Controlled burns conducted by government agencies or authorized personnel for forestry or public safety purposes;
--> Fires used for cooking in approved grills or fire pits, provided they are attended and comply with applicable safety regulations; or
--> Agricultural or forestry burns conducted under a valid permit from the Georgia Forestry Commission in compliance with state law and Georgia Forestry Commission guidelines.
4. This shall be enforced by the City of Richmond Hill officials and their designated departments, including but not limited to the Richmond Hill Fire Department and the Richmond Hill Police Department.
5. Duration. This declaration shall remain in effect until drought conditions improve.
6. Public Notice. The City of Richmond Hill shall provide notice of this declaration through appropriate public channels, including the City website, social media, and local news outlets.
This Declaration of Emergency is made this 22nd day of April 2026 at 1:00 p.m. and shall be effective immediately.
