The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a 20-county burning ban effective Oct. 1 at 6 a.m.
The counties under the ban are those with infrastructure most impacted by Hurricane Helene: Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York.
(Update: As of Oct. 7, the burn ban was lifted for all counties.)
The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris in unincorporated areas and includes burning for forestry, wildlife or agricultural purposes. Scott Phillips with SCFC said the ban is intended to relieve the strain on first responders.
The ban does not include fires used for the preparation of food or fires in appropriate enclosures, such as portable outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes.
