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County manager outlines drought-response guidance as crews assist regional wildfires
Summary
Lowndes County staff described a Level 1 drought response from Georgia EPD requiring a public information campaign and urged conservation steps; Chief Young reported county crews assisting large wildfires in neighboring counties and raised concerns about reburn and peat smoldering.
County manager Miss Dukes and staff briefed commissioners on drought guidance and wildfire response activity, urging residents to conserve water and noting county firefighters are assisting neighboring counties on large fires.
Mister Stalvey explained the Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued a Level 1 drought response that requires public-water systems to implement a public-information campaign and suggested conservation measures including checking and repairing leaks, reducing unnecessary indoor water use, and restricting general landscape watering to between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., with exceptions for food gardens, new plantings and drip irrigation.
Chief Young reported that Lowndes County personnel have been on the ground assisting the Pineland and Highway 82 fires in neighboring counties, providing structural protection and mutual aid. He gave acreage and containment figures and warned of the risk of reburn and smoldering peat in affected areas. Commissioners thanked crews and urged residents to comply with burn bans and safety guidance.
County staff also discussed aging brush trucks and plans to spec replacement units, and confirmed vegetative debris disposal options at recycling centers.
