The outdoor burn ban that has been in effect for the City of Vidalia since Hurricane Helene left massive destruction was updated as of Thursday.

According to City of Vidalia Fire Chief Brian Sikes, the total and inclusive ban has been lifted, but citizens need to be advised that the City Ordinance regarding burning is still in place and must be adhered to.

According to the city Ordinance, open burning is allowed from October 1 – April 30 of each year unless conditions call for a special restriction. Burning is allowed between 10:00 a.m. to one hour before sunset, and there should be no smoldering or hot coals presented after one hour prior to sunset.

At no time is burning permitted on windy days if the winds are 10 mph or greater or on days when atmospheric conditions such as cloudy, overcast or raining would cause smoke to remain low to the ground.

As safety precautions, all burning must be tended to by an adult over the age of 21 years of age. Fires must never be left unattended, and a source of water must be on hand and ready to douse the flames if necessary.

Bonfires require special permission from the Fire Department and must be 100 feet from property lines and be completely out by 11:00 p.m.

The entire ordinance on burning can be found in Section 8 in the Ordinance link on the city’s website at vidaliaga.gov.

Failure to comply with the burn ordinance in the city can result in citations and fines ranging from a simple written warning to a minimum fine of $150 for continued violations.

If you have any questions about outside burning, contact the Vidalia Fire Department at 912-537-4388.