Wake County has enacted a local burn ban effective immediately, in alignment with the statewide burn ban previously issued by the North Carolina Forest Service on Saturday, March 28. The countywide ban extends protections to areas within 100 feet of occupied dwellings, locations not covered under the state’s order. The ban will be in effect until further notice. Conditions will be reevaluated in the coming days to determine when it is safe to lift the ban.
“People are the best line of defense against wildfires,” said Wake County Fire Marshal Braxton Tanner. “We need everyone to take this ban seriously and avoid any outdoor burning until conditions improve.”
The Wake County burn ban prohibits:
- Burning leaves, branches or other plant material
- Campfires, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and burning barrels
- Fireworks and other pyrotechnics
Burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or any other non-vegetative materials is always illegal, regardless of burn bans.
Wake County encourages residents to remain vigilant. Those who smoke should ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and disposed of properly.
The county extends its thanks to the firefighters, state park rangers and NC Forest Service rangers who continue responding rapidly to fire outbreaks across the state.
