SCFC to lift Red Flag Fire Alert for remaining counties Friday
COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is lifting the Red Flag Fire Alert for counties in the Piedmont region of the state as well as Aiken and Barnwell counties, effective at 6 a.m. Friday, April 10.
The weather conditions that prompted the alert to remain in effect for these 21 counties Thursday, mainly low relative humidity and stronger-than-normal winds, are expected to improve throughout the weekend, beginning Friday.
Although the Forestry Commission is lifting its Red Flag Fire Alert, agency officials still urge extreme vigilance when burning outdoors; the lack of appreciable rain and worsening drought are expected to persist at least through April.
State law requires anyone planning to burn outdoors (outside of city limits) to notify the Forestry Commission in advance and take the proper precautions, including:
- clearing a firebreak around the burn area;
- having water and/or tools on standby to keep the fire contained;
- never leaving the burn unattended, staying with the fire until it is completely out, preferably with water.
Anyone who burns outdoors and allows their fire(s) to escape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Two types of public outdoor burning are permitted in South Carolina:
Residential yard debris burning
State law requires citizens who live in unincorporated areas 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. Citizens who do live in city/town limits must still abide by any burning ordinances in their local jurisdictions. Citizens can make notification online by visiting scfc.gov/notify or by calling the toll-free notification number for the county in which they live, found here: scfc.gov/protection/fire-
Prescribed 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.