Pickens County Journalism Since 1999
South Carolina Forestry Commission issues statewide burning ban March 27
The morning of Friday, March 27, 2026, The South Carolina Forestry Commission isused a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 4 p.m.
A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.
The ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes).
Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated potential for fires igniting easily and spreading rapidly. Dangerously low relative humidities – reaching below 20% in some areas – combined with extremely dry fuels statewide and gusty winds will create a particularly volatile mix of wildfire risk factors throughout the weekend.
“In addition to the intensifying drought conditions, the weather we’re going to see statewide over the next several days makes it ripe for any fire that starts to burn intensely and move fast,” SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones said. “While these conditions can make wildfires ignite easily anywhere and make it more challenging for firefighters to contain, we’re really concerned about areas where events like Hurricane Helene and recent ice damage have led to higher amounts of fuel. This burning ban is necessary to limit ignitions to the maximum extent possible to prevent severe wildfires for public safety purposes.”
The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.
Published in The Pickens County Chronicle March 27, 2026
Update on March 29: Forestry Commission to lift burning ban on March 30
The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the statewide burning ban at 7 a.m. Monday, March 30.
The extremely low relative humidities and gusty winds that prompted the March 27 ban have subsided, although elevated drought conditions over much of the state warrant the need to be extremely vigilant when burning outdoors.
While rain chances increase later this week, it is not expected to be enough to improve the drought status significantly. Above-average fire danger and activity is still expected through April, which has historically seen the most damaging and costliest wildfires in South Carolina. Anyone who burns outdoors and allows their fire(s) to escape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
“Just because the burning ban is being lifted, it does not mean the fire danger is gone. Most of the state is still very dry, and the risk of fires igniting easily remains. Anyone who has conducted a burn recently should continue to monitor it closely because of the potential for it to reignite,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “If you choose to burn outdoors, you should be extremely careful and take all necessary precautions. Any fire you start is your responsibility even if it rekindles and spreads days later.”
Citizens who may plan to conduct outdoor burning of residential yard debris or prescribed burns must still notify the Forestry Commission before doing so.
Residential yard debris burning:
State law requires citizens who live in unincorporated areas to notify the Forestry Commission before burning outdoors. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that people clean up from their yards. Citizens who do live in city/town limits must still abide by any burning ordinances in their local jurisdictions.
Citizens can make notification online by visiting scfc.gov/notify or by calling the toll-free notification number for the county in which they live, found here: scfc.gov/protection/fire-burning/how-to-notify/.
Prescribed burning:
State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission before burning for forestry, wildlife management or agricultural purposes. This includes burning for wildfire hazard reduction, brush control, endangered species management, wildlife habitat improvement, plant disease control, crop residue removal and preparation of land for planting trees or agricultural crops. All burning for forestry, wildlife and agriculture must comply with SC Smoke Management Guidelines.
To make notification, regardless of county, please call (800) 777-3473.
Update published in The Pickens County Chronicle on March 29, 2026