The North Carolina Forest Service has lifted an open burning ban for 19 counties, effective 8 a.m. Friday. The counties affected are Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes and Union.
This lifting comes after the statewide ban was initially implemented on March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions. A separate group of 81 other counties had their burn bans lifted on May 3.
The lifting of the state’s burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal maintains the authority to issue or lift a burn ban for fires in these specific areas…