Burn ban is still in place
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Local fire officials have issued reminders that the state is still under a burning ban that prevents any outdoor burning except in gas grills or other enclosed cook stoves.

Watauga County forest ranger Rudy Johnson of the N.C. Forest Service said he and Watauga County fire marshal Steve Sudderth had discussed the matter and said some people apparently believed the ban had been lifted. Despite some recent local rains, the statewide ban remains in place and those who violate the open-burning order are subject to a $100 fine.

“We’re finding people are still burning,” Johnson said. Though no local bans have been added to the state’s restrictions, no burning permits can be issued and the state still faces serious drought.

The ban became effective Aug. 21 due to drought conditions and extremely dry pine straw. According to the State Division of Forest Resources, in a little more than eight months, North Carolina exceeded its 10-year average number of wildfires and acres burned. More than 5,400 wildfires have burned more than 30,700 acres in the first eight months of the year. On average, North Carolina experiences 4,931 wildfires that burn 20,008 acres each year.

Mid-September is also typically one of the two most dangerous fire seasons, along with spring. Though Watauga County has avoided any major wildfires, several fires across the state have spread in the windy and dry conditions.

Open burning includes burning leaves, branches and other plant material. It is also illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials.

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is not permitting campfires at any of its campgrounds across the state. Campers will be allowed to use gas or propane stoves as well as charcoal cooking fires within a charcoal grill or campground fire ring with metal sides.

The U.S. Forest Service, which regulates the Blue Ridge Parkway, is also restricting campfires to designated campsites only. Campers must use self-contained stoves, grills, or park-supplied camp grills or fire rings. The ban will remain in place until further notice.

Watauga County is classified as suffering “extreme drought” by the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.