Ware County Fire Rescue

09/17/2026

We are honored to receive a grant in the amount of $19,681 from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The funds went directly towards the purchase of communication equipment including radios and pagers, fulfilling a critical need within our department. Thank you to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, our local Firehouse Subs restaurant in Waycross and the generous donors who made this possible!

07/21/2026

05/14/2026

County wide burn permits may now be applied for at the following link between the hours of 8am-6pm.

NOTICE: All outdoor burning must have a
permit and is good only for natural vegetative materials. It is unlawful to burn man made materials such as tires, shingles, plastics, lumber, household garbage, etc.

Burning Permits Are Good Only For The Day They Were Issued.

05/12/2026

🔥 ATTENTION 🔥

The burn ban has been lifted for Ware County by the state of Georgia, BUT the County wide burn restriction is still in effect. This means burning is still NOT allowed at this point in time. Once this is lifted you will be able to apply for a burn permit at:

05/05/2026

🔥 🚒 ATTENTION 🚒 🔥

Although we have received some much needed rain, the burn ban is still in effect!

05/04/2026

🚒 Thank you to the men and women of Ware County Fire Rescue for all you do to protect and serve our community! 🚒

04/23/2026

🔥 🚨 Ware County Fire Rescue is standing strong with our neighbors! We have and are continuing to send units for mutual aid to support neighboring counties fighting active wildfires across South Georgia. We are proud of our crews for answering the call to protect lives, homes and property. Stay safe, stay alert, and observe the current burn bans in effect. 🔥🚫

04/20/2026

⚠️ 🔥 URGENT 🔥 ⚠️

Good afternoon, due to the severe drought in South Georgia the City Of Waycross has a permanent no burn ordinance in place and Ware County has suspended burn permits until further notice. Please note that to burn any yard debris in Ware County, you must obtain a burn permit. Burning without a permit is illegal in Ware County and punishable by fines. We urge everyone within the city and county do not burn anything outside until further notice. Please be very attentive to grilling outside also. If you notice any outside fires, please call 911.

Thank you,

James E. Blackburn Jr.
Fire Chief, City of Waycross

Dee Meadows
Fire Chief, Ware County Fire Rescue

04/20/2026

⚠️ 🔥 ATTENTION 🔥 ⚠️
Ware County Fire Rescue is still responding to backyard burn piles, please help to educate family, friends and neighbors that NO burn permits are being issued at this point in time, until we receive considerable rainfall!

Red Flag Warning is in effect Today for inland Northeast Florida and inland Southeast Georgia from 8AM to 8PM. Minimum relative humidity values of 15 to 25 percent & northeast winds 15-20 miles per hour gusting to 25-30 miles per hour will create dangerous fire weather conditions.

Avoiding Activities with open flames or Sparks. 🚫🔥

04/17/2026

Georgia’s drought continues to worsen — and nearly every corner of the state is feeling the impact.

📍 98.1% of Georgia’s land area is now in moderate to exceptional drought
📍 69.1% of Georgia’s land area is in extreme to exceptional drought
📍 9.6 million Georgians live in drought-affected areas
📍 This was Georgia’s 8th driest first quarter (Jan.–March) on record dating back to 1895

Dry grass, leaf litter, woods and fields can ignite quickly under these conditions, allowing wildfires to spread faster and burn more aggressively.

We all have a role to play in preventing the next wildfire:
✔️ Avoid parking vehicles in dry grass
✔️ Use outdoor equipment carefully
✔️ Never leave grills, fire pits or debris burns unattended
✔️ Obey local burn restrictions and permit guidance
✔️ Report smoke or wildfire concerns quickly

One less spark can mean one less wildfire.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.