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NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Commencing today, South Carolina has imposed a statewide ban on burning due to heightened wildfire risks.
In recent months, the CSRA has seen a significant lack of rainfall, resulting in conditions that are increasingly susceptible to wildfires.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission is advising residents to refrain from lighting unnecessary fires, as they can easily spiral out of control under current conditions.
“Presently, any fire poses a significant risk to us all. Fires can be fueled just as much by dry materials as they can by the wind. When these elements are combined, the result could be catastrophic,” explained Sgt. Daniel Smith from North Augusta Public Safety.
These fire dangers are exacerbated by the ongoing drought, reduced humidity levels, and the potential for strong winds across the state, creating a critical situation for fire outbreaks.
“When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones in a statement on social media. “These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”
There have been two large wildfires in our South Carolina viewing area this year, the Woodlawn fire and the Sunnybrook Drive fire. Both fires burned across hundreds of acres.
“We’ve trended this direction for the past three years. Every year they get bigger. We’ve had airplanes in the air twice this year,” Sgt. Smith said. “And in my memory, I couldn’t tell you when or if that’s happened in Aiken County before.”
We haven’t had any measurable rain since March and so far in April, we’ve only had a trace amount. The moderate drought conditions we are under coupled with the massive amount of fuel left behind by hurricane Helene is concerning.
“We’ve put some time between us and Helene now. So all of the damage from that, that’s still an areas that you can’t see, is getting age on. It’s continued to dry out. It continues to be a problem,” Smith said.
The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.
While the ban does not apply to grills or fires used in approved enclosures, Forestry Commission officials urge caution when burning outdoors under these exemptions. They added that, other than grills, they prefer people don’t use them at all.
“The only legal fires you can do are in chimneys or portable fire fireplaces. There are some exceptions for a permanent campfire rings that are made of stone, masonry or metal. You know, those are still extremely dangerous. We would ask people really to to hold off from that,” said Doug Wood, director of communication with the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
People should also be careful when using any equipment that could create sparks and avoid parking on dry grass. Using fireworks is a bad idea too.
Authorities say people should take this burn ban seriously.
If you are caught illegally burning during a burn ban, you may be fined up to $500. But if a destructive fire starts because of you, you could face serious consequences.
“If you start a wildfire and it burns your neighbor’s yard or property or, structures or heaven forbid, leads to loss of life, you’re just as civilly liable for that as you would be in any other case where you’ve acted irresponsibly. So, that can that can be, many more fines and jail time,” warned Wood.
The Palmetto State’s burn ban is in effect until further notice. Wood said that won’t likely happen until South Carolina sees some significant rain.