( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The N.C. Forest Service is waiving the requirement for open burning permits in 21 Western NC counties effective at noon on Saturday, Oct. 12, until further notice.
This measure is enacted through the authorization of House Bill 149, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 , authorities said.
“Hurricane Helene left excessive amounts of storm-related debris on the ground in the western part of the state,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a written release. “Critical infrastructure is still being restored, and many communities continue to have limited access, making it difficult, nearly impossible, for people to comply with the law and get a burning permit. While we’re waiving the requirement for a permit in these 21 counties, we cannot stress caution and safety enough when it comes to burning outdoors this time of year.”
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Troxler said with more fuel on the ground as a result of the hurricane, seasonal leaf fall, and as conditions continue to dry, burning storm-related debris as safely as possible is paramount.