Columbia County manager urges water conservation as statewide wildfire emergency expands

Scott Johnson, Columbia County manager, used the County Compass podcast to urge local water conservation and compliance with a statewide burn ban after Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 of Georgia’s 159 counties because wildfires have surpassed the state’s five‑year average.

Johnson described the order as a tool to speed resource deployments and enable cost reimbursements for affected counties. “With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state's 5‑year average and continue to spread,” he read from the governor’s statement and said the declaration helps state agencies move personnel and equipment more quickly.

The Georgia State Forestry Commission has…