The 0.64-inch rainfall Burke County received earlier last week is not enough for officials to end the county-wide burn ban. State climate data shows that the rainfall did not penetrate the top layer of the ground’s surface.
The Burke County Fire Marshal’s Office first issued the ban on Sunday, March 2, due to extreme fire danger and later strengthened that ban by beginning to issue citations to violators after 5 p.m. March 4.
The first offense will cost violators $100, and the fine will double for each subsequent violation.
Morganton Public Safety issued a local burn ban of its own on Monday, March 3.
The ban applies to all open burning conducted within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, including but not limited to fire pits, grills, leaf and yard debris.
It does not affect North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) permitted, controlled, and attended fires that extend beyond 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.
Dry weather conditions coupled with an abundance of fuel on the ground in the form of drying, woody debris from Hurricane Helene have combined to make the area susceptible to wildfires.
This burn ban applies to ALL outside burning that is being conducted within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling; including but not limited to fire pits, grills, and leaf and yard debris.
The burning of any material other than natural vegetation is illegal, regardless of burn ban status.
The ban does not affect North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) permitted, controlled, and attended fires that extend beyond 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, this activity is regulated by the NCFS.
Contact the Burke County Fire Marshal’s Office at 828-764-9320 or by email at fire@burkenc.org with Burn Ban related questions.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.