Why was burn ban lifted in 41 SC counties but not in the Upstate? Forestry Commission explains
The State Forester's Burning Ban for 41 South Carolina counties has been lifted as of 6 a.m. Monday, March 31.
Only five counties remain under the ban, including Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg.
Data from the South Carolina Forestry Commission shows the Table Rock Complex Fire has grown over 12,000 acres, making it the largest mountain wildfire in the state's history. The fire is also 30% contained, with the Persimmon Ridge Fire 64% contained.
Residents may be wondering why the burn ban has been lifted in other counties as the wildfires continue to blaze. Here's what we know.
A burning ban is an emergency measure where outdoor burning is legally prohibited. It is only declared when outdoor burning is considered a significant threat to public safety, according to the Forestry Commission.
There are two types of burning bans under S.C. state law:
∎ State Forester's Burning Ban: Declared by the director of the Forestry Commission and prohibits starting any fire in or adjacent to "woodlands, brush lands, grasslands, ditch banks, or hedgerows" (SC Code 48-35-50). This includes all types of outdoor burning.
∎ Governor's Burn Ban: Less restrictive, making allowance of certain agricultural burning (SC Code 48-31-30).
The Forestry Commission has decided to lift the burn ban in 41 counties because the "dangerous combination of low relative humidities and gusty winds that prompted the March 21 outdoor burning prohibition has improved and is expected to ease significantly across the state over the next week."
In the media advisory, Fire Chief Darryl Jones also said "Burning bans are not intended to be extended, much less permanent, solutions to wildfires. Prescribed burns in particular are necessary tools for forestry and agriculture, but we can't emphasize enough the importance of using fire prudently and respecting the weather."
Above average fire danger and activity is expected throughout April, when S.C. has historically experienced the most damaging and costly wildfires. Residents who burn outdoors and allow their fires to escape are warned they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
The burn ban is being held in place in these five counties so the Forestry Commission and fire department personnel/equipment can remain dedicated to the Table Rock Complex fires in Greenville and Pickens counties, which have grown to a combined 13,000 acres. Horry County's ban remains in effect while Forestry Commission resources continue to focus their efforts on mop-up and strengthening firebreaks around the Myrtle Beach-Covington Drive Fire, which is 85% contained.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg counties still under burn ban
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
Pittsburgh's emergency management coordinator says he didn't make proper notifications about absence during storms
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, who serves as the city's emergency management coordinator, concedes he didn't properly notify Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler or Pittsburgh City Council that he was out of town when last week's storms hit. Jones told KDKA that he's sorry for the lapse, but Heisler still has concerns about the city's response to the storm. Where was the city's emergency management coordinator? The storms on April 29 caused more damage and havoc than any other in memory. But Jones, the person in charge of coordinating the city's response, was in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Heisler says his failure to make the required notifications raises serious questions. "Everybody's entitled to be on vacation or tending to personal responsibilities," she said. "But this was an emergency in the city, and the emergency management coordinator was not here. Why wasn't the public notified? Why weren't city leaders notified? And who stepped in the absence of that position?" Jones fell on his sword and accepted the blame for not notifying Heisler or the council. "That's an error on my part," Jones said. "I've been doing this for over four years now, and I didn't realize I was supposed to notify the controller and council. So, my apologies for that." Fire Chief Jones makes an extra $10,000 a year to also serve as the city's emergency coordinator. But he was attending a national fire chiefs conference in Myrtle Beach and decided not to come back to Pittsburgh, staying in phone contact and putting Deputy Coordinator Adam Ameel in charge. "Adam did a fantastic job managing the incident in my absence," Jones said. But council members say they didn't know who was in charge or who to contact. "For a lot of people, we're the boots on the ground that residents are talking to, not necessarily going to the mayor's office," Councilman Bob Charland said. "My phone's been blowing up with calls about trees and roadways and things like that." While Duquesne Light fielded most of the complaints about power outages, the city has been taken to task for not clearing trees that stayed down for days. Sources say prior to the storm, it had been the policy of the Public Works Department not to clear trees covered with wires. But as the week went on, firefighters with so-called "hot sticks" identified those with live wires and the others safe to be removed. "We were not prepared to handle all of those downed trees, all of the electrical issues that happened," Heisler said. "And when you factor all of those things in with the fact that the emergency management coordinator wasn't in town, it begs the question, who was in charge?" Chief Jones says he will learn from his mistake, and the city will conduct a thorough review of its response to the storm. Both say they will be better prepared in the future.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Smoke from wildfire flare-ups still plague Myrtle Beach area 7 weeks after flames began
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.– South Carolina residents in Myrtle Beach and Carolina Forest awoke to thick smoke this week from flare-ups from a wildfire that began nearly seven weeks ago. The Covington Drive Fire began in Horry County on March 1. It quickly spread to over 2,000 acres, prompting evacuations for dozens of residents. Horry County Fire Rescue and the South Carolina Forestry Commission battled the blaze for weeks, eventually reaching 90% containment. Hot spots, caused by deep, smoldering pocks of embers, have continued popping up in the weeks since the fire started, causing smoke to move in and out of nearby communities. A photo from Friday morning in Myrtle Beach showed how the smoke is impacting some areas. A house across the street, normally visible, was completely hidden by smoke. Carolinas Likely Face Wildfire Problems 'For The Next Several Years' After Helene, Official Says Horry County Fire Rescue warned residents that smoke could be an issue over the next several weeks, especially in the early mornings. A photo posted by Horry County Fire Rescue on Wednesday showed the smoke as the sun rose: As to why fires like the Covington Drive Fire smolder for so long, the South Carolina Forestry Commission says the saturated nature of soils in the Carolina Bay doesn't allow oxygen, making it take longer for dry vegetation and such to break down. Then, as moisture levels go down in the soil, it dries out and becomes similar to the tobacco inside a cigar, said Roy Holt, a Black River forester with the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The fire continues to smolder, burning deeper and deeper as the soil becomes exposed to oxygen. Horry Corry Fire Rescue said these hot spots will likely continue until the area receives significant enough rainfall to fully contain and extinguish the article source: Smoke from wildfire flare-ups still plague Myrtle Beach area 7 weeks after flames began
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Covington Drive wildfire flare-ups still producing smoke in area
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Flare-ups from the Covington Drive wildfire in Carolina Forest are continuing to cause smoky conditions across parts of the Grand Strand. 'Smoldering fire mixed with wind and dry conditions are commonly producing hot spots within the fire lines and breaks,' Horry County Fire Rescue said Wednesday morning in a Facebook post. According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the 2,059-acre fire, which began on March 1, remains 90% contained. Despite the flare-ups, Horry County Fire Rescue said Wednesday morning that 'all structures remain well protected and that smoke, especially in the early morning, is likely to continue until the area receives a significant amount of rainfall. Horry County Fire Rescue and Forestry Commission crews are continuing work on the flare-ups to maintain containment. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
