ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — It’s spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and forest officials are urging people to take every precaution to keep backyard fires in the backyard.
Five Western North Carolina counties — Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk and Transylvania counties — are under an extreme fire danger risk, according to the North Carolina State Climate Office fire danger map. The rest of Western North Carolina is listed as very high.
Before burning outdoors, people should check the fire danger map to assess the danger in their county, the N.C. Forest Service said.
Use these best practices/prevention tips:
- Make sure you have a valid burn permit.
- Check for any burn bans.
- Don’t be careless. Be ready.
- Keep your burn pile small, not tall.
- Watch the weather. Never burn on dry windy days.
- It is illegal to burn anything other than natural vegetation.
- Trash must be hauled away to a trash or recycling station.
- Never use flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Call 911 to report a wildfire.
Contact your N.C. Forest Service county ranger for guidance.
Keep the following available:
- Water hose
- Bucket
- Steel rake
- Shovel
Relief could be coming later this week. Dry high pressure is expected to continue through Wednesday with temperatures well above normal. A notably strong storm system will impact the area Saturday into Sunday and will bring widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe with damaging wind, the National Weather Service said.