Bulloch County leaders have approved a countywide burn ban as dry weather and several wildfires continue to raise fire concerns, including one fire that still smolders in the southern part of the county. County commissioners voted unanimously Friday to approve the temporary ban after weeks of limited rainfall and multiple wildfires. Officials said they want to reduce the chance of new fires and conserve firefighting resources that already face strain. David Bennett, chairman of the Bulloch County Commission, spoke exclusively with WJCL 22 News, saying dry conditions across Georgia have made the situation worse. “It's not just dry here. It's dry all over the state of Georgia. So those firefighter resources are starting to get spread thin. And, it's much easier just to not have a fire than it is to try to fight it, especially when the conditions are as dry as what they are right now,” Bennett said. Bennett is urging residents to avoid activities that could create sparks and ignite a fire, including using lawn mowers, chainsaws and weed eaters. Officials also asked drivers pulling trailers to make sure safety chains do not drag on the road, since dry grass can catch fire easily. County leaders also say the timing of the burn ban matters as thousands of students prepare to return to school, which could increase traffic crashes and medical calls, pulling emergency crews away from wildfire response. “We know that there's an increase in traffic accidents. So combining that with the…
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