Checking Burn Bans & Fire Restrictions in Your Area

North Carolina: North Carolina Forest Service: August 15, 2024; Careless backyard burning is the leading cause

of wildfires in North Carolina. Someone burns on the wrong day or turns their back for a second, and that’s all it takes.

Before burning, it is important to check for burn bans or fire restrictions in your area. Do you know where and how to check for bans or restrictions?  

You may live in a community where open burning is never allowed or is only allowed during certain times, under certain conditions. Check with city or town officials for those types of restrictions. City or town websites are good sources for information.

Your county fire marshal may enact a local burn ban on outdoor burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Check with your county fire marshal’s office for those types of bans. Your county’s website is a good source for information.

The N.C. Forest Service may implement a state ban on open burning during hazardous forest fire conditions. A state burn ban applies to all open burning outside of the 100-foot area around an occupied dwelling. State burn bans are enacted by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Check with your N.C. Forest Service county forest ranger about state bans on open burning.ncforestservice.gov is also a good source for information when state burn bans are in effect.