All outdoor burning in South Carolina will be prohibited effective at 7 a.m. Friday—until further notice.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) will issue a State Forester's Burn Ban, restricting the burning of yard debris, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state. The ban does not apply to fires used for cooking or those in appropriate enclosures such as outdoor fireplaces, chimineas and permanent fire pits that are in compliance with the state's fire codes.
State officials say a "dangerous mix" of weather factors is behind the decision. Rapidly growing drought conditions, plummeting humidity, and high winds expected with an approaching cold front have pushed the wildfire risk to extreme levels.
State Fire Chief Darryl Jones warns that under these dry conditions, fires can ignite easily and spread so rapidly they become difficult for crews to control.
Forestry officials are reminding South Carolinians that escaped debris burns are the number one cause of wildfires in the state. Those account for more wildfire ignitions—including lightning, arson and equipment use—than all other causes combined.
