The message from local fire department officials is clear – Do not burn outside.
Despite scattered showers in the early hours of Wednesday morning, conditions remain extremely dry across most of Western North Carolina.
“We have had a high number of brushfire calls in the past week, and the rain we got this morning isn’t likely going to have much of an impact,” Macon County EMS Director Warren Cabe said. “Conditions (Wednesday) afternoon are going to be warm and sunny, and with the wind picking up, it’s still not a good time to be burning anything outdoors.”
There were reports of two brushfires in Highlands over the weekend, according to Highlands Fire and Rescue call logs. Other fire and rescue agencies around the county also responded to multiple brush fires, as did crews from the North Carolina Forest Service.
Highlands averages approximately 6.5 inches of rain annually in the month of October. Thus far in October 2022, less than half an inch of rain has fallen in Highlands.
“Now is not the time to be burning leaves, or anything else, outdoors,” Highlands Fire and Rescue Chief Ryan Gearhart said. “We are seeing conditions similar to what we saw in the fall of 2016, and no one wants a repeat of that fire season. We are asking everyone to use extreme caution and avoid outdoor burning for the time being.”
Wildfires were a major problem in 2016 when dozens of blazes scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, causing millions of dollars in damages.
For fiscal year 2021-2022 there were 6,887 wildfires that burned 26,958 acres in North Carolina. Only 1 percent of those wildfires were directly linked to a natural ignition source such as lightning. The other 99 percent of wildfires during that span were directly related to human activity, according to NC Forest Service statistics.
“Always exercise caution with any outdoor burning. Even if burn bans are not in effect in your area, weather conditions may not be favorable for outdoor fires,” NC Agriculture Commissioner Seve Troxler said in a written statement. “Outdoor burning is discouraged during periods of low humidity and/or high winds.”
To learn more about fire safety and preventing wildfires and loss of property, visit www.ncforestservice.gov.