WADESBORO — The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a ban on burning in Anson County, effective May 24 until further notice.
Anson, along with 25 other counties, will not be able to conduct an open burn due to the increased fire risk. This bans prohibits all open burning, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued and any new issues on permits have been suspended until the ban has been lifted.
The burn ban is also issued in Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland and Wayne counties.
Those who are in violation of the ban will face a $100 fine plus $183 in court costs and any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
“Our state is getting drier and hotter, and wildfires like those conditions,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a press release. “These conditions coming during spring wildfire season when wildfire activity and fire risks are already elevated, make this burn ban necessary to protect life and property in North Carolina.”
This open burn ban includes burning leaves, branches and other plant material, as well as trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics and other non-vegetative material.
To learn more about wildfire preparedness and prevention plans, go to ncforestservice.org/fire_control/fc_wui.htm.
