Old Fort Fire & Rescue :: Open Burning Information

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 WHAT IS A RED FLAG FIRE ALERT? A Red Flag Fire Alert is a wildfire danger warning issued by the SC Forestry Commission. The Red Flag cautions that wildfire danger is increasing, and that outdoor burning could become difficult to control. A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning as long as all other state and local regulations are followed. When a Red Flag is in effect, the Forestry Commission asks people to voluntarily postpone any outdoor burning. While the Red Flag itself does not prohibit burning, it may trigger certain county or local ordinances that do restrict outdoor fires. To find out about these ordinances, contact your local fire department. (Forestry Commission officers do not enforce local burning ordinances; that authority is reserved to city or county officers.) WHAT IS A BURNING BAN? A Burning Ban legally prohibits outdoor burning. Bans are emergency measures, declared only when outdoor burning is deemed significant threat to public safety. There are two kinds of Burning Bans under SC State Law: a State Forester´s Burning Ban, declared by the director of the Forestry Commission, and a Governor´s Burning Ban, declared by the Governor upon recommendation of the State Forester. The State Forester´s Burning Ban prohibits starting any fire in or adjacent to "woodlands, brushlands, grasslands, ditchbanks, or hedgerows" (SC Code 48-35-50). This is generally interpreted to include all types of outdoor burning. The Governor´s Burning Ban is less restrictive, making allowances for certain agricultural burning (SC Code 48-31-30) In announcing a Burning Ban, the issuing authority will specify the area of South Carolina to which the restrictions apply. Neither the State Forester´s Ban nor the Governor´s Ban applies with the corporate limits of any town or city (SC Code 48-35-30 and 48-31-30). Violation of either a State Forester´s Ban or a Governor´s Ban carries a fine of up to $100. Any burning to which a Ban applies also requires prior notification to the Forestry Commission, so ignorance of a declared Ban is not generally considered a viable legal defense. 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

WHAT IS A RED FLAG FIRE ALERT?

A Red Flag Fire Alert is a wildfire danger warning issued by the SC Forestry Commission. The Red Flag cautions that wildfire danger is increasing, and that outdoor burning could become difficult to control.

A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning as long as all other state and local regulations are followed. When a Red Flag is in effect, the Forestry Commission asks people to voluntarily postpone any outdoor burning.

While the Red Flag itself does not prohibit burning, it may trigger certain county or local ordinances that do restrict outdoor fires. To find out about these ordinances, contact your local fire department. (Forestry Commission officers do not enforce local burning ordinances; that authority is reserved to city or county officers.)

WHAT IS A BURNING BAN?

A Burning Ban legally prohibits outdoor burning. Bans are emergency measures, declared only when outdoor burning is deemed significant threat to public safety.

There are two kinds of Burning Bans under SC State Law: a State Forester´s Burning Ban, declared by the director of the Forestry Commission, and a Governor´s Burning Ban, declared by the Governor upon recommendation of the State Forester.

The State Forester´s Burning Ban prohibits starting any fire in or adjacent to "woodlands, brushlands, grasslands, ditchbanks, or hedgerows" (SC Code 48-35-50). This is generally interpreted to include all types of outdoor burning.

The Governor´s Burning Ban is less restrictive, making allowances for certain agricultural burning (SC Code 48-31-30)

In announcing a Burning Ban, the issuing authority will specify the area of South Carolina to which the restrictions apply. Neither the State Forester´s Ban nor the Governor´s Ban applies with the corporate limits of any town or city (SC Code 48-35-30 and 48-31-30).

Violation of either a State Forester´s Ban or a Governor´s Ban carries a fine of up to $100. Any burning to which a Ban applies also requires prior notification to the Forestry Commission, so ignorance of a declared Ban is not generally considered a viable legal defense.

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.