South Carolina Forestry Commission Lifts Statewide Burning Ban

Elevated drought conditions still warrant vigilance, officials say.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:35pm

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The South Carolina Forestry Commission has announced that it will lift the statewide burning ban at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 30th. The ban was put in place due to extremely low relative humidities and gusty winds, but those conditions have now subsided. However, the state is still experiencing elevated drought levels, so officials are urging residents to exercise caution when conducting any outdoor burning.

Why it matters

Wildfires are a major concern in South Carolina, especially during the spring months which have historically seen the most damaging and costly blazes. The lifting of the statewide ban will allow residents to resume activities like yard debris burning and prescribed burns, but officials warn that the fire danger remains high due to the ongoing drought conditions.

The details

The South Carolina Forestry Commission says that while rain chances are increasing later this week, it is not expected to be enough to significantly improve the drought status across much of the state. Above-average fire danger and activity is still anticipated through April. Citizens who conduct outdoor burning, whether for residential yard debris or prescribed forestry/agricultural purposes, must still notify the Forestry Commission before doing so. Failure to properly monitor and contain any fires could result in the person being held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

  • The statewide burning ban will be lifted at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • Historically, April has seen the most damaging and costly wildfires in South Carolina.

The players

South Carolina Forestry Commission

The state agency responsible for managing and protecting South Carolina's forests, including issuing burn bans and guidelines for outdoor burning.

Darryl Jones

Fire Chief of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, who warned residents to remain vigilant despite the lifting of the burn ban.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Darryl Jones, Fire Chief, South Carolina Forestry Commission

What’s next

The South Carolina Forestry Commission will continue to monitor drought conditions and fire danger across the state, and may reinstate a burn ban if conditions warrant.

The takeaway

While the lifting of the statewide burning ban is a positive sign, residents of South Carolina must remain extremely vigilant about outdoor burning activities due to the ongoing drought. Failure to properly monitor and contain any fires could have serious consequences, both legally and in terms of public safety.