Residents near Freemanville Road may notice smoke in the air as an open burn, starting off Phillips Circle and spanning the vicinity, is set to commence using an air curtain destructor—a device aimed to manage and reduce smoke from vegetative waste. The undertaking has been authorized by the Milton Fire-Rescue Department and is slated to take place through January 11, weather and air quality permitting, according to the City of Milton.
The burn operation at 14140 Freemanville Road has specific constraints: no burning during the night hours or on Sundays and it won't occur if it's raining, on holidays, or if pollution levels are unusually high, during all these periods the intent is to prevent any undue accumulation of smoke which could affect local air quality and infringe upon the peace typically associated with such days of respite.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division, the use of an air curtain destructor is sanctioned for "a forced air pit incinerator for the purpose of disposing vegetative waste and debris," a method ostensibly less impacting than traditional open burns. Such devices need permits to be operated in Georgia, detailed by the City of Milton.
Morning times may see moderate amounts of smoke while afternoons should yield a smoky reduction, as the air curtain destructor's pit temperature theoretically climbs, diminishing the visible emissions. The burn operation is also precluded on upcoming holidays, namely Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, residents seeking more information or with concerns can reach out to the Milton Fire Marshal’s office.
