There are only a few days left until Georgia’s summer burn ban takes effect.

From May 1 to Sept. 30, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division prohibits outdoor burning to help protect air quality.

During the hot summer months, ground level ozone and particle pollution are more likely to reach unhealthy levels.

Ozone, which is a summer pollutant, can cause inflammation to the lungs and cause permanent damage, even at very low levels.

Residents and businesses in a 54-county area, including Hall County, are not allowed to burn yard and land-clearing debris during the burn ban. Some activities such as campfires and agricultural activities are exempt, according to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Web site.

Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said there are two types of permits that are issued for burning — residential and land clearing.

The more commonly issued residential permits allow for burning leaves, tree limbs and other yard waste.

"Most of the time people don’t want to take that stuff to a landfill so they’ll burn it in their yard," Cagle said.

The other permit requires inspection and allows for commercial businesses to clear land.

"They usually have to have a hole dug in the ground and a blower that blows over the pit and makes the fire burn hotter and faster and with less smoke," Cagle said.

Gainesville Fire Marshal Jerome Yarbrough said he expects to see a jump in requests before the burn ban starts.

"A lot of people forget the ban’s coming," Yarbrough said. "This is the last weekend before the ban goes into effect. We’ll probably have an increase in permits."

Yarbrough said Gainesville plans to issue permits up to the deadline, but permits are dependent on weather. Days that are too windy present a fire hazard, for example. "We have to do an inspection on a daily basis," he said.

Gainesville allows residents to burn some yard materials under certain conditions.

Burn sites are inspected to see what the fire’s proximity to a building and water source and check what will be burned. Fires must go out at dark and can’t be left unattended.

Overall, Yarbrough said there isn’t much demand for burn permits. He receives between 70 and 80 requests each year.

"We allow grass, leaves and small storm debris to be burned. With the city having curb side pickup, I think burn permits have decreased over the years," Yarbrough said.

Though burning during the summer can be a fire hazard, Cagle emphasized that the burn ban was put in place to protect air quality.

"It has nothing to do with the water, nothing to do with droughts, it’s strictly because of the ozone and it’s worse on our atmosphere," Cagle said.

Cagle said people violate the burn ban, though not often.

"This is probably our eighth or ninth year so people are pretty used to it as far as violations go. It’s pretty common to get a couple violations a month," Cagle said. "We do have to issue a citation for burning during a burn ban."

Fines for violating the burn ban are set by a magistrate and can be up to $1,000.