Full Notification

Critical fire weather forecasted; Burn Ban now in effect for McDowell County.

The McDowell County Fire Marshal’s Office has issued an open burning ban due to adverse atmospheric conditions including extreme fire danger conditions that are forecasted, including low humidity, and strong gusty winds.  This ban has been issued to protect life and property.
 
The ban applies to all open burning within 100 feet of a structure:

• Yard waste
• Debris
• Land-clearing burns

This ban does not include cooking fires with grills and smokers. All fires within 100 feet of a structure should be extinguished immediately.
 
This ban does not affect N.C. Forest Service permitted, controlled, and attended fires more than 100 feet from a structure as the NCFS regulates this activity.

Red Flag Warning Issued by the National Weather Service:

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued
a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is
in effect from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening. 

* TIMING...From 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EST this evening.

* WINDS...West southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph,
shifting to northwest as a cold front moves through this
afternoon.

* HUMIDITY...20 to 25 percent in the mountain valleys up to 35
percent on the ridge tops. 15 to 25 percent outside the
mountains.

* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, .or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.