Posted on June 5, 2019 in News
COLUMBIA-The South Carolina Forestry Commission is lifting the statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately. Forestry Commission officials still urge vigilance when burning outdoors.
The alert is being lifted because of improving weather conditions. It was put into effect Wednesday, May 29 when weather conditions for most of the state included very low relative humidity and elevated drought conditions, which combined with dry fuels on the ground, created potential for outdoor fires to escape easily and spread rapidly.
As a reminder, state law requires anyone planning to burn outdoors to notify the Forestry Commission in advance. Two types of public outdoor burning are permitted in South Carolina:
Residential Yard Debris Burning
State law requires citizens to notify the Forestry Commission before burning outdoors. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that people clean up from their yards. The notification law does not apply within town or city limits. Find every county’s toll-free notification number on the SCFC home page or at
https://www.state.sc.us/forest/fyard.htm.
Forestry, Wildlife, and Agricultural Burning
State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission before burning for forestry, wildlife management or agricultural purposes. This includes burning for wildfire hazard reduction, brush control, endangered species management, wildlife habitat improvement, plant disease control, crop residue removal and preparation of land for planting trees or agricultural crops. All burning for forestry, wildlife and agriculture must comply with
SC Smoke Management Guidelines. To make notification, regardless of county, please call (800) 777-3473.
