It's National Color Day! Forests provide an array of colors, especially in the fall, for us to enjoy. Here are some of our favorites!

This morning the Forestry Commission, SCDNR and Chesterfield County officials celebrated the opening of a new fishing pier at Sand Hills State Forest in Patrick. SC Forestry Commission Forest Management Chief Russell Hubright, SCDNR Director Tom Mullikin, Rep. Richard Yow and Sen. Allen Blackmon spoke about the history of the state forest, its meaning to the community and the importance of the new fishing pier to the local community and beyond. The new pier replaced the previous dock that had fallen into disrepair over many years of use. This project was made possible by the Chesterfield County Water Recreation Fund. We're thankful for our partners, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Chesterfield County Legislative Delegation.

Have a favorite tree in the Midlands? The Treasured Trees program is returning to the region, and you can take part by nominating your favorite tree, whether for its size, age, historical significance or unique beauty! The official revitalization of the Treasured Trees program was announced last month by Columbia Green, the Columbia Garden Club, the Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia, the City of Columbia and local civic partners. The Midlands tradition, which started in 2005, is being refreshed and strengthened to highlight the natural beauty, history and community value of the local tree canopy. Since its inception, 206 individual trees and five groves of trees have been honored as Treasured Trees, with nominees historically spanning the Midlands, reaching as far as Batesburg-Leesville and Newberry. The Treasured Trees program is designed to build public awareness and appreciation for the importance of trees in our ecosystem and daily lives. NOMINATE A TREE *Deadline is Oct. 31, 2026 Apply at one of the two webpages: columbiagreen.org/treasuredt… or publicworks.columbiasc.gov/t… 1. Fill out the online application form accessible through both webpages or 2. Fill out the online PDF and email it to [email protected] or 3. Download the PDF and fill it out by hand and mail it to City of Columbia, Forestry & Beautification, 2910 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203, Email photos of your nominated tree to [email protected] and be sure to include your name. SELECTION The selection committee will meet Nov. 16 to review the applications and select this year’s honorees. Honorees and nominators will be recognized on South Carolina Arbor Day Friday, Dec. 4, 2026. The City of Columbia will provide framed certificates and program materials to honor the owners and nominators of the selected trees.

It's National Forest Products Week! 🌲 The observance pays tribute to the thousands of products that come from our forests, the professionals who manage them and the businesses and people that create, move and add value to the goods they generate. 💸 Forest products come from a renewable and sustainable resource and touch our lives every day. 🗒️ ✏️ 🪥 🧻 Many forest products are easily recognizable, like napkins, toilet paper and computer paper, but some are not so obvious, like toothpaste made from cellulose gum and compounds from trees in medicine and shampoo. Our forests also provide much more than consumer goods, helping purify the air and providing 60 percent of the fresh water in the US. 💧 #ForestProductsWeek #ForestProud

Every successful prescribed burn starts with a plan. Learn how to prepare a prescribed fire plan with experienced practitioners next month! WHO This course is geared toward landowners who are interested in using prescribed fire on their property and have little or no experience in preparing a prescribed fire plan. WHAT Participants will be guided through the planning process by experienced prescribed burning practitioners. You'll learn to: -Set prescribed burning objectives -Identify smoke-sensitive areas -Determine needed weather conditions -Evaluate fuel types -Plan for advanced burning preparations WHEN Tuesday, Nov. 10 5:00p.m. to 6:30p.m. WHERE SC Forestry Commission Office 2908 Walterboro Hwy Varnville, SC REGISTER prescribedburnhampton.eventb… *Cost is $20 CONTACT Mike Windhorn [email protected]

Our 4th Annual Dozer Academy wraps up today as a new group of wildland fire bulldozer operators graduates from the program at Manchester State Forest. This week’s training included courses that will be vital for operators in real-life situations.⁠ ⁠ Dozer Academy kicked off Monday with participants completing safety field exercises, including rollover escape and a Code Red exercise. Later on, topics such as dozer and FireTrack maintenance and in-woods repairs, loading/unloading and basic maneuvering were introduced.⁠ ⁠ Students also practiced various dozer operations such as righting a flipped plow, bog recovery, slope, waterbars, night operations and specific skills such as stump recovery and removing snags.⁠ ⁠ Congratulations to our employees who completed this comprehensive course, and thank you to our staff who organized and facilitated this important training.

Horry County Warden Carmichael checks and cleans his backpack hand pump in front of his vehicle, circa 1958. The plate just above the license plate identifies him as an official Forest Fire Warden. #ThrowbackThursday In the early days, Forestry Commission Fire Wardens were primarily smoke chasers, responding to fires in their personal vehicles. If the fire wasn’t too large, the warden would put it out himself with hand tools or enlist help from volunteers in the community. Tractors were few and were only dispatched when the warden couldn’t handle the fire with hand tools and local helpers. #ForestryHistory #SCForestry More SCFC history: scfc.gov/about-us/history/pi…

It's #NationalFirePreventionMonth! During October and beyond, make sure you think before you burn! 📷 Keep these rules in mind when doing any kind of outdoor burning:⁠ ⁠ 1. CHECK the weather before you burn. Avoid burning on days with high wind speeds and gusts and on days with lower-than-usual relative humidities.⁠ ⁠ 2. NOTIFY the Forestry Commission before you begin your burn (excluding grills, campfires, portable fireplaces, permanent fire pits, chimineas, etc.). This rule applies only in unincorporated areas of the state (outside of city/town limits), and burners must make notification every unique day they burn. Call the toll-free notification phone number for the county you live in to make notification, notify on the app or visit scfc.gov/notify. ⁠ ⁠ 3. Clear a FIREBREAK around the material being burned that is relative to the size of the fire (at least half of the width of the burn pile itself). Firebreaks should be constructed by removing all vegetation and exposing the bare ground or mineral soil.⁠ ⁠ 4. PREPARE by having proper and sufficient tools and water on hand to prevent the fire from spreading if it escapes the firebreak. Stay with the fire at all times, never leaving the burn site for any amount of time or for any reason.⁠ ⁠ 5. EXTINGUISH the fire completely, drowning it with water until the burned material and ashes are cool to the touch.⁠ Send this video to a friend! youtu.be/bkAzpDyRhFk?si=i_Px… ⁠ Learn more at scfc.gov/protection/fire-pre…

It's #SpookySeason... have you seen these creepy crawlies near you? 🕷️ This is the Jorō spider, an invasive species that first appeared in Georgia in 2014. It's since been found in 20+ SC counties, according to jorowatch.org. If you have seen one (or many more) near you, the 2026 Joro Spider Spotting & Photo Contest is happening now through Sunday, Oct. 18! Snap a photo, submit a report and learn more about the contest here: jorowatch.org/season/ ⁠ APPEARANCE⁠ -Females are very large (3" legspan) with vibrant, yellow bodies and blue-green or silvery colored bands on their backs, plus red markings on their bellies. ⁠Legs are long and black with yellow bands.⁠ -Males are much smaller (1" legspan) and appear in various shades of yellow and brown. ⁠ ⁠ LIFE CYCLE⁠ 🕸️ April/May: Eggs hatch; tiny spiders are difficult to spot at this stage.⁠ 🕸️ Late summer: Spiders become noticeable as they approach maturity.⁠ 🕸️ November/December: Females lay eggs before the first major freeze; adult spiders die after the first freeze.⁠ ⁠ MANAGEMENT⁠ -Jorō spiders are not likely to come inside your home, but you might see them on your house or on other structures nearby.⁠ -These spiders can be eliminated using a registered acaricide.⁠ -A stick or broom can be used to knock the spiders from their webs, and you can physically move them far from the original location as they are unlikely to return to that spot.⁠ SEE A JORO? Snap a picture! This helps researchers track the spread of this invasive species. ⁠ FAST FACTS⁠ -Jorō spiders have lookalikes, including the yellow garden spider and the banded garden spider.⁠ -They have not been shown to be a danger to people or pets.⁠ -Reduced populations of native spiders have been documented where there are high Joro spider populations, which suggests a negative ecological impact. ⁠ -The central orb of a Joro spider's web is typically around 2' in diameter; the silk is yellow.⁠ -Webs tend to be found at the edges of forests, in parks, on roadside plants or in yards on trees and on manmade objects like sheds.⁠ ⁠ Life cycle, management and more: hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/t… General information: naisma.org/2024/07/03/the-jo… Addressing common concerns about Joro spiders: news.clemson.edu/studies-sho…

The first week of our 2026 Wood Magic Forest Fair is in the books! More than 480 fourth grade students attended the 3.5-hour program at Piedmont Forestry Center in Oconee County October 6th – 9th. Each day, classes participated in forestry-related educational experiences and demonstrations. The fair combines hands-on activities with visually engaging presentations to teach children about the importance of forest lands to wildlife, the economy and our daily quality of life. We couldn't have done it without the 62 volunteers worked as guides, instructors food servers and more. Thank you to all of our volunteers who came from all backgrounds, agencies, organizations and businesses, including US Forest Service, Clearwater Paper, Clemson University, Clemson Extension, SC Forestry Commission, as well as Midlands and Upstate Master Naturalist Groups for taking time out of your busy schedules to help teach 4th graders about sustainable forestry. Next up: Harbison State Forest! Learn more about the program: scfc.gov/education/wood-magi…

Today's #ThrowbackThursday feature shows early fire patrol in SC. The first organized forest fire control efforts were initiated in 1928 when groups of landowners in cooperation with the S.C. State Commission of Forestry formed five forest fire protection organizations for the control of woods fires on some 195,000 acres of woodland. These Forest Protective Associations, as they were known, grew in number and size until 1944 when 24 counties had organized fire protection organizations. In 1945 the General Assembly passed the South Carolina Forest Fire Protection Act which extended organized forest fire protection to every county in South Carolina – the first of any of the southeastern states to take such a step. #ForestryHistory #SCForestry Learn more: scfc.gov/about-us/history/

#ICYMI Wood products manufacturer Adeptus USA has selected Anderson County to establish its first South Carolina operation with a $215.56 million investment that will create 217 new jobs. #IndustryNews Adeptus’ new facility in Honea Path will manufacture value-added and processed pine wood products for a diverse range of building products and millwork applications. The company’s primary product offerings include painted and primed moulding, boards, shiplap and a variety of panel products and grades. "We welcome Adeptus USA’s decision to make South Carolina home for its newest solid wood furniture, panels and moulding manufacturing facility," said State Forester Scott Phillips. "We're letting the world know that S.C. forests are open for business, and Adeptus' announcement is evidence of the sustainable, high-quality, home-grown forest resources we have to offer." Operations are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027. HTI will support Adeptus’ hiring efforts during the startup phase, with employment opportunities posted as positions become available. Interested applicants can view current openings and apply at htijobs.com/adeptus. Learn more: sccommerce.com/news/adeptus-…

Interested in a forestry career but not sure where to start? Check out forestryworks.com for resources and a quiz to help find the job that best matches your interests! Already in the field? See opportunities with the SCFC at governmentjobs.com/careers/s…

REGISTER NOW: Want to learn how to use prescribed fire on your land? Join us and other natural resource organizations later this month for a Learn to Burn field day! This course is geared toward landowners who have low or moderate burning experience, but all are welcome. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN •Benefits of prescribed burning •Fire weather and its effects on fire behavior •How to prepare a prescribed burn plan, including smoke management requirements •Firing techniques and tools of the trade •How to call in a burn Plus, you'll watch and assist with a prescribed burn and take part in review planning and post-burn follow up. WHEN Thursday, Oct. 29 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE 7744 Old State Rd. Cameron, SC REGISTER David Silverberg [email protected] 240-441-6801 *There is no cost to register; lunch is provided. **Attendees must wear non-synthetic field clothing and boots if they want to participate in the prescribed burning. They are also encouraged to wear leather gloves and eye protection. Attendees should expect a variety of weather conditions, wooded and brushy terrain and smoke.

We're loving the cooler weather, but we're already looking ahead to next summer... because applications are open for SCFC summer internships! The SCFC offers three types of summer internships across South Carolina: • State Forest • FIA (Forest Inventory & Analysis) • Forest Health Internships run from May-August with some flexibility possible for start/end dates. STATE FOREST INTERNSHIPS Eight State Forest internships are available at five locations. •2 positions available at Harbison State Forest •2 positions available at Manchester State Forest •2 positions available at Sand Hills State Forest •1 position available at Wee Tee State Forest •1 position available at Niederhof Forestry Center Responsibilities include: •Assisting with forest management activities including timber cruising, timber marking and inventory cruising •Assisting with forest product sale preparation to include establishment of sale boundaries, timber sales and pine straw sales •Assisting with marking of general property boundary lines •Operating light and medium equipment to maintain general state forest grounds FIA INTERNSHIPS Our two available FIA internships are based in Columbia. Responsibilities include: •Measuring tree length, tree diameters and other limited data measurements on forest inventory and health monitoring FIA plots with a degree of accuracy as required by the U.S. Forest Service- Southern Research Station- FIA Unit •Chaining into or out of plot locations and between inventory points •Working on a two-person forestry crew locating forest inventory plots and measuring limited data measurements with a degree of accuracy required by the U.S. Forest Service- Southern Research Station- FIA Unit FOREST HEALTH INTERNSHIPS Forest Health internships are based in Columbia (two positions available) and Pickens/Oconee (two positions available). Responsibilities include: •Facilitating and conducting surveys for invasive species and applying management where warranted •Recording geographic and/or temporal trends of invasive species •Surveying for invasive species and mapping their occurrence •Performing control and/or management of invasive species •Attending events to educate the public about identification and management of invasive species APPLY State Forest Internships: governmentjobs.com/careers/s… FIA Internships: governmentjobs.com/careers/s… Forest Health Internships: governmentjobs.com/careers/s…

The Forestry Commission closed the last of its forest fire lookout towers on this day in 1993. The tower system had served the state since the 1930s. #ThrowbackThursday With the growth of rural populations, improved public communication and increased use of aircraft for fire detection, the tower's detection role was gradually reduced. During the 1980s it became obvious that the tower system served primarily as a communication network, and the towers were gradually phased out. #ForestryHistory #SCForestry Pictured is the Sassafras Mountain fire tower that was located at the highest elevation of any fire tower in the state and was the shortest SCFC tower at about 54 feet tall, circa 1937.

New prescribed burn notification system goes into effect Oct. 1 Citizens who call the Forestry Commission to make notification of their planned prescribed burns – remember, it’s state law! – will notice minor changes in the process beginning Oct. 1. SCFC’s dispatch centers are switching to a new computer system that will greatly improve the agency’s recordkeeping and back-end operations for prescribed burn notifications. While this is a big change for us, longtime prescribed burners will only see two slight differences: -Callers will now be asked for their burn plan information in a slightly different order than it was requested before; and -Assigned burn notification numbers will be provided in a different format. This unique number for each burn will begin with the last two numbers of the current calendar year, followed by “BN,” followed by five numbers that correspond to the order in which a burn notification is approved. For example, the first prescribed burn notification taken Oct. 1 will be assigned the number 26BN00001. As a reminder, state law requires citizens who conduct wildlife, forestry and agricultural burns, also known as prescribed burns, to notify the Forestry Commission beforehand by calling (800) 777-3473. Dispatchers take notifications for prescribed burns via phone to assess appropriate weather conditions, fuel loads, smoke-sensitive areas and issue authorization numbers for burns that comply with South Carolina’s Smoke Management Guidelines. Learn more: scfc.gov/protection/fire-bur…