Old Fort Fire & Rescue :: Open Burning Regulations

Mission Statement History Apparatus Engine Ladder Squad Tanker Other Stations Station Map Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Station 6 Station 7 Public Information Outdoor Burning Regulations Pre-cautions Smoke Detectors Information Schedule an Install Public Relation Events P.R. Information Schedule an Event Upcoming Events Call Stats Personnel Contact Us Links Fire Department's Sponsored Charities Radio Scanner Internal Links CSS Drop Down Menu by PureCSSMenu.com	Outdoor Burning Regulations Click HERE for the South Carolina Forest Law Handbook State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission prior to burning outdoors. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that you clean up from your yard. The notification law does not apply within town or city limits. The toll-free numbers below allow you a quick, easy way to make your yard debris burning notification. Just dial the appropriate number, listen to the message, and leave your name, address and phone number. The law requires that you clear a firebreak around the burning site and have the right equipment available to keep the fire under control. You must also stay with the fire until it is completely safe. In addition to state laws regulating outdoor burning, there may be other local ordinances. Be sure to check on this before burning. If you wish to burn, you MUST call your local fire department AND the South Carolina Forestry Commision of your burn. Old Fort Fire Department (Headquarters): 843-873-5620 South Carolina Forestry Outdoor Burn Line: 1-800-986-3746 Frequently Asked Questions about Outdoor Burning in South Carolina Q: What can I legally burn? A: Vegetative debris, including limbs, leaves, and grass clippings can be burned. If it grows on your property, you can burn it. Q: What items cannot be legally burned? A: You cannot burn household garbage, plastics, shingles, tires, lumber, rubber, or anything other than plant growth that originates on the site. Q: What do I have to do before I conduct an outdoor burn? A: State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission (see below) and follow certain precautions. To implement the proper precautions, you must clear a firebreak around the burn site and have the right equipment (water hose, tractor, shovel, hand tools, etc) available to keep the fire under control. You must also stay with the fire until it is completely safe. All burning MUST comply with regulations established by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. To find out more about DHEC regulations and outdoor burning, follow this link: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/baq/OpenBurning/ In addition to state laws regulating outdoor burning, there may be other local ordinances that apply in your area. Be sure to check with your local fire department or county fire marshal before burning. Q: What time of day can I burn? A: The law does not restrict the time of day you can burn. However, burning during the late afternoon or at night, temperature inversions can cause smoke to linger close to the ground, where it may impact your neighbors or nearby roads. In general, it is best to burn between 10 am and 3 pm. This time of day is best for smoke dissipation, and will reduce the risk of negatively impacting your neighbors. Q: How do I notify the Forestry Commission? A: The toll-free numbers below allow you a quick, easy way to make your yard debris burning notification. Just dial the appropriate number, listen to the message, and leave your name, address and phone number. The notification law does not apply within town or corporate limits. HOW TO REPORT WOODS ARSON Woods arson is a common term for deliberately burning forests, grasslands, or brush without the owner’s permission. It is a major cause of wildfire in South Carolina. Woods arson is felony under state law, punishable by fines of up to $5000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years. If you have information about a woods arson case, you can report it to: (803) 896-8838 Please give as much information as you have available, to include: -Location and time of the fire -Name of person responsible, if known -Description of persons observed at the scene -Description of any vehicles observed at the scene -Any other pertinent information -Your name and phone number (optional) The Forestry Commission does not offer rewards for information. You can also report woods arson to the Arson Hotline: CALL 1-800-92-ARSON The Arson Hotline is answered 24 hours a day by the State Law Enforcement Division. You can report information anonymously, and rewards are available if your information leads to the arrest and indictment of a suspect.

Outdoor Burning Regulations

Click HERE for the South Carolina Forest Law Handbook

State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission prior to burning outdoors. In most cases, the law applies to burning leaves, limbs and branches that you clean up from your yard. The notification law does not apply within town or city limits.

The toll-free numbers below allow you a quick, easy way to make your yard debris burning notification. Just dial the appropriate number, listen to the message, and leave your name, address and phone number.

The law requires that you clear a firebreak around the burning site and have the right equipment available to keep the fire under control. You must also stay with the fire until it is completely safe.

In addition to state laws regulating outdoor burning, there may be other local ordinances. Be sure to check on this before burning.

If you wish to burn, you MUST call your local fire department AND the South Carolina Forestry Commision of your burn.

Old Fort Fire Department (Headquarters): 843-873-5620

South Carolina Forestry Outdoor Burn Line: 1-800-986-3746

Frequently Asked Questions about Outdoor Burning in South Carolina
Q: What can I legally burn?
A: Vegetative debris, including limbs, leaves, and grass clippings can be burned. If it grows on your property, you can burn it.

Q: What items cannot be legally burned?
A: You cannot burn household garbage, plastics, shingles, tires, lumber, rubber, or anything other than plant growth that originates on the site.

Q: What do I have to do before I conduct an outdoor burn?
A: State law requires that you notify the Forestry Commission (see below) and follow certain precautions. To implement the proper precautions, you must clear a firebreak around the burn site and have the right equipment (water hose, tractor, shovel, hand tools, etc) available to keep the fire under control. You must also stay with the fire until it is completely safe.
All burning MUST comply with regulations established by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. To find out more about DHEC regulations and outdoor burning, follow this link: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/baq/OpenBurning/
In addition to state laws regulating outdoor burning, there may be other local ordinances that apply in your area. Be sure to check with your local fire department or county fire marshal before burning.

Q: What time of day can I burn?
A: The law does not restrict the time of day you can burn. However, burning during the late afternoon or at night, temperature inversions can cause smoke to linger close to the ground, where it may impact your neighbors or nearby roads. In general, it is best to burn between 10 am and 3 pm. This time of day is best for smoke dissipation, and will reduce the risk of negatively impacting your neighbors.

Q: How do I notify the Forestry Commission?
A: The toll-free numbers below allow you a quick, easy way to make your yard debris burning notification. Just dial the appropriate number, listen to the message, and leave your name, address and phone number. The notification law does not apply within town or corporate limits.

HOW TO REPORT WOODS ARSON

Woods arson is a common term for deliberately burning forests, grasslands, or brush without the owner’s permission. It is a major cause of wildfire in South Carolina. Woods arson is felony under state law, punishable by fines of up to $5000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

If you have information about a woods arson case, you can report it to: (803) 896-8838

Please give as much information as you have available, to include:

-Location and time of the fire
-Name of person responsible, if known
-Description of persons observed at the scene
-Description of any vehicles observed at the scene
-Any other pertinent information
-Your name and phone number (optional)

The Forestry Commission does not offer rewards for information. You can also report woods arson to the Arson Hotline: CALL 1-800-92-ARSON

The Arson Hotline is answered 24 hours a day by the State Law Enforcement Division. You can report information anonymously, and rewards are available if your information leads to the arrest and indictment of a suspect.