With the arrival of North Carolina’s spring wildfire season amid ongoing drought conditions, the N.C. Forest Service is urging residents to exercise caution with outdoor fires, particularly when burning yard debris.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stated, “With the recent rainfall combined with multiple winter storms earlier this year, some folks may not realize that most of North Carolina is still experiencing very dry conditions. Our state’s gradual descent into drought and prolonged dry conditions means wildfires can ignite more easily, burn more intensely and spread quicker. The best defense against wildfires will always be to prevent them from starting.”
Escaped yard debris burns remain the primary cause of wildfires in the state, accounting for nearly half of all incidents. Human activity overall is responsible for 99% of wildfires in North Carolina. Spring weather often brings people outdoors to work in their yards, with many choosing to burn leaves and limbs as a method of disposal.
Troxler added, “A fire can escape in a matter of seconds, especially on warm days when winds are gusty. This means you never leave a fire unattended until it is completely out and cold.”
Other causes of human-related wildfires include machinery use, vehicles dragging tow chains, arson, and escaped campfires. Western counties affected by Hurricane Helene are at increased risk due to dead timber adding fuel to potential fires.
The N.C. Forest Service recommends checking local burning laws before starting any outdoor fire and obtaining necessary permits either at an N.C. Forest Service office or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermits. Residents are also advised not to burn on dry or windy days and to prepare adequately by having water sources and tools ready for fire control.
The agency emphasizes never using flammable liquids like gasoline or kerosene to accelerate burning and stresses that fires should not be left unattended until they are completely extinguished.
Campfire safety measures include dousing embers thoroughly with water or mixing dirt or sand if water is unavailable. Hot ashes should never be dumped into wooded areas.
Residents are also reminded not to fly drones near wildfire zones as these can interfere with firefighting aircraft operations and pose risks to both pilots and public safety.
For those living in high-risk areas, preparing for wildfire smoke is important—especially for children, older adults, active individuals, and people with heart or lung disease such as asthma. Information about air quality can be found at www.ncair.org, https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/, and www.airnow.gov.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees forest management through its NC Forest Service division while promoting sustainable farming practices across the state (https://www.ncagr.gov). The department works on enhancing quality of life by supporting community farming initiatives (https://www.ncagr.gov), ensuring food safety (https://www.ncagr.gov), and contributing significantly—$102 billion—to the state economy (https://www.ncagr.gov). Commissioner Steve Troxler has led these efforts as head of the department (https://www.ncagr.gov).
Further information on wildfire prevention can be found at www.preventwildfirenc.org.
