News

Outdoor burning ban cancelled

By Bill Moss, Published: December 2, 2016

Authorities cancelled the outdoor burning ban in Henderson County and 31 other mountain counties on Friday because recent rains have helped to reduce fire danger.

The burn ban has been lifted in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.

In the Piedmont, which received significantly less rain, the burn ban will remain in effect.

“Despite the recent rain, the N.C. Forest Service has noted that not all areas received the soaking rain needed to fully mitigate fuel conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “They would like some additional time to assess fire conditions in the Piedmont counties currently under the ban.”