Forestry Commission Lifts Burning Ban for 12 Upstate Counties

Relief is on the way for residents in the northwestern part of the state as the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) announced it will lift the State Forester’s Burning Ban for 12 Piedmont counties. The change is scheduled to take effect at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.

The decision follows 12 days of restricted outdoor burning across the state. Officials cited improved weather conditions and recent rainfall as the primary reasons for easing the restrictions in the Upstate.

Impacted Counties

The ban will be lifted in the following counties:

• Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, and Chester

• Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Oconee

• Pickens, Spartanburg, Union, and York

Weather Trends Lead to Split Conditions

While the northwestern region benefited from an inch or more of rain in most areas, the rest of the state remains under strict burning restrictions. SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones warned that central, eastern, and southern counties still face volatile conditions due to a lack of significant precipitation.

“The dry weather and drought conditions are expected to remain until we get extended soaking rain,” Jones said, noting that fuels remain dry in the majority of the state despite a decrease in high winds.

Guidelines for Outdoor Burning

Even in the 12 counties where the ban is being lifted, citizens must follow state law before starting any outdoor fires.

• Notification Required: Residents in unincorporated areas must notify the Forestry Commission before burning residential yard debris (such as leaves, limbs, and branches).

• City Ordinances: Those living within city or town limits are required to follow any local burning ordinances in their specific jurisdictions.

• Prescribed Burns: Formal agricultural or silvicultural burns also require prior notification to the SCFC.

Citizens can provide the required notification online at scfc.gov/notify or via the Forestry Commission’s automated phone system. Fire officials continue to urge extreme caution, reminding the public that even when a ban is lifted, local conditions can change rapidly.