By Elisabeth Strillacci

All open burning is now banned across the entire state, including Rowan County, according to the N.C. Forest Service.

The department canceled all burn permits effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, until further notice due to increased fire risk.

Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases at all times, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative material is illegal.

“It is spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With these ongoing conditions, a statewide burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of wildfires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state. It is imperative that folks adhere to this burn ban until further notice.”

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in all 100 counties in this instance, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

Local government agencies have jurisdiction over fires within 100 feet of a dwelling so the statewide ban would not apply to those.

However, the N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked that they consider also implementing a burning ban and Rowan Fire Marshal Deborah Horne says she has implemented a ban of those fires as well.

“So right now in Rowan County, no burning is allowed at all except for cooking” on a portable gas stove or grill, Horne said.

“Right now, our local forest rangers are being deployed across the state to fight these brush fires,” Horne went on to explain. “A single ember can travel up to one full mile, and small yard burns can get out of control within minutes.”

Part of the reason the state is struggling with so many large fires is because in combination with extremely dry air, the tremendous amount of debris left behind by Hurricane Helene has created piles of fuel just waiting to burn. Local residents have also trimmed trees of late, preparing for spring, and have piles of dry wood on their properties. Once a fire is lit, it can get out of control in no time even if someone is standing watching.

“Hence the full ban,” said Horne. She also reminded people that for those who are going camping, campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, as listed earlier, portable gas stoves or grills are approved alternate methods for cooking food while camping.

Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.

The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions. Residents with questions regarding a specific county can contact their N.C. Forest Service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office.