FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, NOV. 21, 2016
MONDAY, NOV. 21, 2016
Contact: Brian
R. Haines, public information officer
N.C. Forest Service
919-857-4828
Burning ban issued
for 22 additional counties
to protect lives
and property
RALEIGH – Agriculture
Commissioner Steve Troxler today banned open burning and canceled all burning
permits for 22 more counties in Western North Carolina. Added to the list are
Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford,
Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan,
Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.
The
burning ban will take effect at 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21, and will be in effect
until further notice.
Under North
Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties,
regardless of whether a permit was issued. The issuance of any new permits also
has been suspended until the ban is lifted. Violation of the ban carries a $100
fine plus court costs of $180.
The ban on open
burning is necessary because of the dry weather
conditions and the potential for the increase in human-caused wildfires in the region.
As of Nov. 20, there have been 3,021 wildfires affecting more than 19,058 acres
on state protected lands across North Carolina this year. In the mountains
alone, there have been 1,203 fires that have burned 4,015 acres.
Those numbers do
not include fires burning on federal lands, the Party Rock fire near Lake Lure
and the Chestnut Knob fire. The Party Rock fire has burned 7,171 acres since it
was first reported on Nov. 5. The Chestnut Knob fire, burning in the South
Mountain State Park, has burned 6,433 acres since it was first reported on Nov.
6. These fires, combined with those on federal lands, have burned closed to
46,000 acres in Western N.C. State protected lands include state and private
owned properties.
“Fire experts with
the N.C. Forest Service feel the current drought situation and the increase in
available forest fuels makes it necessary to increase the number of counties
under the burn ban,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We want to
be proactive in our approach and take appropriate action to prevent the
potential for human-caused wildfires.”
An open burn ban is now in
place for the entire counties of Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery,
Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay,
Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Guilford, Haywood,
Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg,
Mitchell, Montgomery, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford,
Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and
Yancey.
Here are a few facts
about the law regarding the ban on open burning:
·
The burn ban does not apply to cooking fires such
as grills or outdoor cookers.
·
The ban does not apply to a fire within 100 feet
of an occupied dwelling. County fire marshals have jurisdiction over open
burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has
advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and asked for their
consideration of also implementing a burning ban. In addition, other local
ordinances and air quality regulations may also impact open burning.
·
If a fire within that 100-foot area escapes
containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to
extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be
responsible for reimbursing the N.C. Forest Service for any expenses related to
extinguishing it.
·
Open burning includes burning leaves, branches
and other plant material. In all cases, it is illegal to burn trash, lumber,
tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials.
·
Outdoor burning is also prohibited in areas
covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts.
Local
fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest
Service in enforcing the burn ban.
Fire Prevention Education Team deployed to region
A U.S. Forest Service Fire
Prevention Education Team is working in Western North Carolina in an effort to
decrease the number of human-caused wildfires there. In addition to assisting
with information on these wildfires, the team is working with communities,
distributing information and working with the media to raise awareness about
the current fire danger. In addition a joint information center has been
established to help provide information to the media and the public. The JIC
can be reached at 828-575-2352 or by email at ncjicinformation@gmail.com.
You can also
contact Brian R. Haines at 919-857-4828. Residents with questions regarding
their specific county can contact their county ranger with the N.C. Forest
Service or their county fire marshal’s office.
-brh-5
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