A day after Western North Carolina received its first significant rainfall in two months, the N.C. Forest Service lifted its burn ban for most western counties.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, the state’s ban on all open burning outside of the 100-foot area around an occupied dwelling was lifted for the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) also announced that it lifted fire restrictions for Pisgah and Nantahala national forests on Nov. 22, effective immediately.
Buncombe County officials announced Wednesday that its local state of emergency would end at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23. However, county leaders said the local open burning restrictions put in place by the Buncombe County fire marshal will remain in place for now.
State officials stressed that while conditions have improved, the public should remain cautious when it comes to outdoor burning.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of Western North Carolina are still under severe or extreme drought conditions.
