---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-6-21. Uncontrolled fire as constituting a public nuisance; duties and liabilities of person or entity responsible.
collection: code
id: 12-6-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-6-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-6-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-6-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-6-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=703
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-6.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / FOREST RESOURCES AND OTHER PLANT LIFE / FOREST RESOURCES / STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:extinguish-ing
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-6-21. Uncontrolled fire as constituting a public nuisance; duties and liabilities of person or entity responsible.

Any fire burning uncontrolled on any forested or cut-over brush land or grassland is declared to be a public nuisance by reason of its menace to life and property. Any person, firm, or corporation responsible either for the starting or for the existence of such fire is required to control or extinguish it immediately. If such person, firm, or corporation shall refuse or neglect to do so, any organized fire suppression force may suppress the nuisance thus constituted by controlling and extinguishing the fire; and the cost thereof may be recovered from the responsible person, firm, or corporation.

## History

Ga. L. 1937, p. 264, § 9; Ga. L. 1955, p. 309, § 31.

## Cross References

Authority of commission to enter lands for purposes of preventing, controlling, or suppressing forest fires, § 12-6-84. Burning of woodlands, brush, fields, or other lands; destruction of or damage to material or device used in detection or suppression of wildfires; penalties for violations, § 16-7-63.