SC Forestry Commission issues Red Flag Fire Alert for 33 counties on Sunday

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) —The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a Red Flag Fire Alert for 33 counties across the Midlands, Pee Dee and coastal regions of the state, effective at 6 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11.

According to the SCFC, a Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. Land managers who are considering conducting prescribed burns should take extra care if they still choose to burn under a Red Flag.

The alert is being issued to discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. In addition to dry fuels resulting from the lack of significant rain, forecasts are calling for very low relative humidity – below 25% – and gusty winds across much of the state tomorrow.

Counties excluded from the Red Flag Fire Alert have received what Forestry Commission officials believe is sufficient rainfall to avoid an abundance of wildfire ignitions. They include Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York.

“The combination of dangerous conditions we’re going to see in the affected areas tomorrow are the classic ingredients for elevated wildfire risk, and they’re going to be vulnerable to fires that can escape easily and spread rapidly,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “With this alert, we’re asking people to respect the weather and hold off from burning outdoors until the weather improves.”

While portions of the mountains and Piedmont have received minimal rainfall this week, fuels are already very dry in some areas. Low relative humidity and high wind speeds contribute greatly to wildfire risk. While rain wets fuels, fine surface fuels dry rapidly under low humidity and strong winds creating high fire danger.

Adding to the danger, particularly in the western part of the state, are the heavy fuel loads that remain in our forests from Hurricane Helene. Not only can these downed, drying trees and other fuels act as kindling, increasing the risk of wildfire ignition and spread, but they also are likely to impede firefighters’ access, adversely impacting response capability.

Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation.