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South Carolina Bans All Outdoor Burning Amid Wildfire Risk
Statewide ban takes effect Friday, March 27 due to extreme drought and weather conditions
Mar. 27, 2026 at 10:49am
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The South Carolina Forestry Commission has issued a statewide ban on all outdoor burning, including yard debris, campfires, and other recreational fires, effective at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 27. The ban is an upgrade from the earlier Red Flag Fire Alert and will remain in place until further notice due to extremely dry conditions, low humidity, and gusty winds that create a high risk of wildfires igniting and spreading rapidly across the state.
Why it matters
South Carolina has experienced intensifying drought conditions and recent weather events like Hurricane Helene and ice storms that have left behind large amounts of dry, flammable vegetation. The Forestry Commission says these factors, combined with the forecasted weather, make the state highly vulnerable to dangerous and fast-moving wildfires that could threaten public safety.
The details
The statewide burning ban prohibits all outdoor burning in unincorporated areas, including yard debris, prescribed burns, campfires, and bonfires. The ban does not apply to fires used for cooking food or in approved outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. Forestry officials say the ban is necessary to limit ignition sources as much as possible given the extreme wildfire risk factors present.
- The statewide burning ban takes effect at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026.
- The ban will remain in place until further notice from the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
The players
South Carolina Forestry Commission
The state agency responsible for managing and protecting South Carolina's forests, including issuing fire alerts and bans when weather conditions present an elevated wildfire risk.
Darryl Jones
The Fire Chief of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, who warned that the combination of drought, dry fuels, and forecasted weather make the state highly vulnerable to fast-moving and dangerous wildfires.
What they’re saying
“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.”
— Darryl Jones, Fire Chief, South Carolina Forestry Commission
“This burning ban is necessary to limit ignitions to the maximum extent possible to prevent severe wildfires for public safety purposes.”
— Darryl Jones, Fire Chief, South Carolina Forestry Commission
What’s next
The South Carolina Forestry Commission will continue to monitor weather conditions and fuel moisture levels, and may lift or extend the statewide burning ban as needed.
The takeaway
With South Carolina facing extreme drought, high winds, and an abundance of dry, flammable vegetation, the statewide burning ban is a critical measure to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires that could threaten public safety and property across the state.
