Open burn ban in effect for WNC

On April 3, the NC Forest Service issued a ban on open burning for all of Western North Carolina, the Citizen-Times reports. Within the city limits of Asheville, the ban includes recreational fires within 100 feet of a structure, including backyard campfires. In Buncombe County, barbecue and fire pits are allowed within 50 feet of a structure but they must be maintained and no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.

The ban was implemented due to the dry, windy, low-humidity days WNC is experiencing. “With spring wildfire season on us, coupled with the COVID-19 crisis, we don’t need to take any unnecessary chances with the dry weather and fuel conditions that will exist in the western part of our state during the next several days,” state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a statement. 

Grand Canyon National Park