Buncombe County issues burn ban amid windy and dry conditions

Mitchell Black, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read

ASHEVILLE – Buncombe County is putting residents on burn notice.

Buncombe County Fire Marshal Kevin Tipton issued a burn ban that will last tentatively to noon Nov. 3. The fire marshal implemented the ban because low humidity and strong gusty winds have created a cocktail for dangerous burning conditions. Winds will reach gusts of up to 35 mph Nov. 1, according to the National Weather Service.

Buncombe County has experienced its 44th driest year to date since 1894, receiving 1.74 inches less than normal from January through September, the most current data available to the National Integrated Drought Information System. As of Oct. 26, a little less than half of the southern portion of Buncombe County is classified as being in moderate drought, while the northern half is abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor..

The ban includes prohibiting the burning of yard waste, debris or land clearing burns, but it does not include fires in barbecue grills, campfire pits, or chimney devices smaller than 3 feet in diameter.

“Use caution and be mindful of the winds and don’t leave any fire unattended in any circumstances,” Tipton told the Citizen Times Nov. 1. “We have lost homes in the county in the last couple of years from unattended burning.”

Fire departments throughout Buncombe County were called to the scene of a warehouse fire at the Metropolitan Sewage District in Woodfin November 10, 2020.
Fire departments throughout Buncombe County were called to the scene of a warehouse fire at the Metropolitan Sewage District in Woodfin November 10, 2020.

Tipton said that the county has embarked on a widespread communications campaign, trying to inform residents about the ban on a variety of platforms. Those who fails to comply could face $500 in penalties and misdemeanor criminal charges, he said.

Tipton said he will reevaluate whether the county will extend the ban based on forecasts Nov. 3. He uses fire weather forecasts provided daily by the NWS to inform his decisions.

Even if all Buncombe County residents adhere to the burn ban, trouble could lie outside county lines. Fire does not respect county borders.

More: Wildfire in Nantahala National Forest continues to grow; 90 acres, no containment

More: Nantahala wildfire grows to 90 acres, no containment; parts of WNC under 'severe drought'

The North Carolina Forest Service in a Sept. 25 news release urged the public to exercise caution and be responsible when burning outdoors.

Tipton also wanted to remind residents to have their heating services inspected and chimneys cleaned by a professional to prevent fires caused by dust, debris and buildup.

Buncombe County recently implemented an open burning ordinance, which regulates how close fires can be from structures, allow air quality to dictate burning regulation, among other small changes.

A total of 54 crew members continue to fight a wildfire in Nantahala National Forest, which continues to grow without containment from when it first started Oct. 23.
A total of 54 crew members continue to fight a wildfire in Nantahala National Forest, which continues to grow without containment from when it first started Oct. 23.

The Citizen Times reported that a wildfire in Nantahala National Forest has grown to 90 acres without containment. That fire began after an Oct. 23 lightning strike.

High winds will abate over the next few days, according to the NWS. Here is the forecast for the rest of the week for Buncombe County:

  • Thursday Nov. 2: Sunny. Highs just above 50 degrees. Winds around 5 mph.

  • Friday Nov. 3: Sunny. Highs close to 60 degrees. Winds between 5 and 10 mph.

  • Saturday Nov. 4: Sunny. Highs around 65 degrees.

  • Sunday Nov. 5: Sunny. Highs close to 70 degrees.

Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe County issues burn ban amid windy and dry conditions