Fall has come to North Georgia, and with it cooler temperatures and changing leaves, but some remnants of summer still remain. Large swaths of North Georgia continue to be in a serious state of drought, some areas as much as 16 and a half inches below normal rain levels, according to Susan Ford, public information officer for the Forest Service. According to Gainesville Fire Marshal Chad Payne, the drought combined with an increase in dead leaves and branches on the ground can lead to a dangerous situation if precautions are not taken.