ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Be extra careful when burning outside this week.
Fire danger conditions are rated high in the area through Thursday, Buncombe County officials said. While no burn ban is in place, the Buncombe County fire marshal has strongly urged people to postpone any burning if possible.
Conditions can change with fire activity, resource depletion or weather shifts.
If you must burn, follow these safety rules:
- Keep debris piles small – no larger than 3 feet in diameter
- Have a way to report an emergency fire immediately
- Never use flammable liquids to speed up debris burning
- Neer leave a fire unattended
- Keep a hose, bucket, steel rake and show available
- Call 911 for out-of-control fires
Follow county ordinance:
- Have tools for extinguishing: water hose, portable fire extinguisher, or tools to move dirt
- Never leave a fire unattended – stay until it is completely extinguished
- Only burn natural vegetation from your property
Several Western North Carolina counties are also listed as having a high fire danger rating, according to the North Carolina State University Daily Fire Danger map. Those counties include Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Polk, Swain and Transylvania. McDowell, Burke and Rutherford counties are listed in the very high fire danger category.
According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, some 4,588 fires burned 15,706 acres across the state last year.