PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A Navy veteran is sending a stark warning after burning leaves in his backyard almost cost him his life. It's typical and legal this time of year in Georgia - burning leaves and branches as long as the conditions are favorable.
Thomas Tard was left with second-degree burns on the right side of his face and third-degree burns down his whole right arm and hand on Halloween night.
"Oh that fire went around me so fast! I was just thinking, 'I got to get out of here! I can't. I can't go out like this,'" Tard said.
Now wrapped in gauze, the 68-year-old Navy veteran remembers the moment flames rushed toward him.
"That sound? I relive it most of the day, just like we watching TV or something. Just the sound, it was so loud it sounded almost like a growl," Tard said.
His normal fall routine almost turned deadly. This time, the way he burned leaves back fired.
"I got a five gallon gas can and poured too much gas. I think my thought at the time was, make it burn faster. The more gas, the faster it burned," Tard said.
Despite being 7-10 feet away, he was enveloped in the flames. The branches and ground where the fire grew was left charred.
"It was crazy. It was dumb. I'm not a dumb person. I just did something dumb. I know common sense tells you you don't pour that much gas on something. I could've killed myself," Tard said.
After several days in the hospital, he's home now, but in a lot of pain.
"When the firemen came here and they told me that happens a lot this time of year with people burning leaves," Tard said.
While he won't be burning leaves anymore, he does want people to learn from his mistake. The veteran and his family are now left fundraising for medical bills.
When it comes to outdoor or open burning, check with your county on what the restrictions are. In most areas, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division allows open burning from Oct. 1 through April 30 of each year -- as long as the following rules and regulations are met:
- You can only burn wood or paper products. All other materials are considered hazardous and illegal to burn. Burning of other materials can result in fines up-to $10,000.00 imposed by the Environmental Protection Division of the State of Georgia.
- Call the automated system before you burn (770-505-2876). You must listen to the entire recording. You must call each day that you plan to burn.
- Fires must be attended at all times by an adult.
- The fire must be 50’ away from any structure.
- A garden hose or fire extinguisher must be readily available.
- The material to be burned cannot exceed 8’x8’x8’ in size. Natural vegetation burns that exceed this size must contact Georgia Forestry for a permit at (770) 443-7821.
- Only natural products (e.g., leaves, tree limbs, etc.) can be burned. No hazardous materials (e.g., tires, plastics, etc.) can be burned.
- Burning of any type of structure is not allowed.
- No burning is allowed when wind speeds or gusts are over 10 miles per hour.
- All fires must be extinguished by dark.
- Campfires for recreational use or cooking are allowed. They must be contained inside a ring, pit, or rock border and must be attended at all times by an adult. Campfires can be no larger than 3’x3’ in size. A garden hose or fire extinguisher must be readily available. Grass clippings and leaves cannot be burned in the campfire. The campfire should be extinguished thoroughly by 12:00 AM (midnight).
- Bonfires are associated with groups or organizations. They can be no larger than 6’x6’ in size. The fire must be attended at all times by an adult. These fires must have prior approval from the Fire Chief or his designee. If approved, bonfires are allowed between the hours of 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM (midnight).
- Commercial Burn Permits are issued by the Georgia Forestry Commission at (770) 443-7821.
- Failure to comply with these burn guidelines may result in civil action presented in magistrate court.