FORESTRY COMMISSION ISSUING RED FLAG FIRE ALERT FOR 33 COUNTIES SUNDAY The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a Red Flag Fire Alert for 33 counties across the Midlands, Pee Dee and coastal regions of the state, effective at 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11. A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. Land managers who are considering conducting prescribed burns should take extra care if they still choose to burn under a Red Flag. The alert is being issued to discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. In addition to dry fuels resulting from the lack of significant rain, forecasts are calling for very low relative humidity – below 25% – and gusty winds across much of the state tomorrow. Counties excluded from the Red Flag Fire Alert have received what Forestry Commission officials believe is sufficient rainfall to avoid an abundance of wildfire ignitions. They include Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York. “The combination of dangerous conditions we’re going to see in the affected areas tomorrow are the classic ingredients for elevated wildfire risk, and they’re going to be vulnerable to fires that can escape easily and spread rapidly,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “With this alert, we’re asking people to respect the weather and hold off from burning outdoors until the weather improves.” While portions of the mountains and Piedmont have received minimal rainfall this week, fuels are already very dry in some areas. Low relative humidity and high wind speeds contribute greatly to wildfire risk. while rain wets fuels, fine surface fuels dry rapidly under low humidity and strong winds creating high fire danger. Adding to the danger, particularly in the western part of the state, are the heavy fuel loads that remain in our forests from Hurricane Helene. Not only can these downed, drying trees and other fuels act as kindling, increasing the risk of wildfire ignition and spread, but they also are likely to impede firefighters’ access, adversely impacting response capability. Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation. Shareable link: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/…

FORESTRY COMMISSION ISSUING STATEWIDE RED FLAG FIRE ALERT The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately until further notice. The Commission plans to reevaluate conditions Sunday. The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. A cold front moving across the state today will usher in low relative humidities throughout the weekend, accompanied by sustained periods of gusty winds. While the frontal passage may result in precipitation in some areas today, the expected amounts of rainfall will not be significant enough to remediate already-dry fuels on the ground over much of the state. A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. Land managers who are considering conducting prescribed fires should take extra care if they choose to burn under a Red Flag. “The combination of wind, low relative humidity and dry fuels is very favorable for wildfire ignitions, so we ask that people who don’t have to burn to hold off until these conditions subside,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “The dramatic uptick in wildfires across the state over the last two months were in large part the result of exactly these typical springtime weather patterns.” The purpose of Red Flag Fire Alerts is twofold: in addition to discouraging people from doing any outdoor burning, it also helps to reduce the strain on local fire departments and other first responders who need to remain available for other emergencies. SCFC firefighters responded to 280 wildfires in February alone, above the five-year average for the second month of the year. The agency has already recorded 277 wildfires in March. Historically, wildfire occurrence in South Carolina is greater in March than in any other month. Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation. See the release here: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/…