By PSA Newsroom Staff
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Early Monday morning, the South Carolina Forestry Commission ended the Red Flag Fire Alert that was in place over the weekend. That’s a good sign, at least for now, wildfire risks across much of the state have eased up a bit.
Forestry officials say they made the call because the dangerous weather passed. Those strong, unpredictable winds that made outdoor burning so risky finally died down. The woods and fields are still dry, we haven’t seen much rain, but things aren’t as touch-and-go as they were just a few days ago. Right now, it’s safer to burn outside, as long as people do it right.
Why They Raised the Alert
The commission put the alert out Saturday. Forecasts called for some pretty nasty weather:
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- Heavy winds, including some wild gusts
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- Low humidity
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- Dry ground and brush, pretty normal for this time of year
That’s a bad combo. Even a small campfire or brush pile could have gotten out of hand fast, putting homes, roads, and even power lines at risk. The alert was there to keep folks from burning outside until things settled down.
What’s Different Now
Since then, the winds have let up. No more wild gusts blowing sparks everywhere. Sure, we could still use some rain, but with the air less dry and the wind back to normal, the risk of a fire running wild has dropped. The Forestry Commission decided it was safe to end the alert as planned Monday morning.
You Can Burn Again—But Don’t Get Careless
Just because the alert is gone, that doesn’t mean folks can set fire to anything, anywhere, anytime. State law still applies:
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- If you want to burn outdoors and you’re outside city limits, you have to call the Forestry Commission first.
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- You need a good firebreak around whatever you’re burning.
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- Keep water, tools, or equipment handy in case things get out of control.
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- Never leave a fire unattended.
Ignore those rules, and you’re risking more than just a runaway blaze—there’s property damage, legal trouble, and fines on the table.
Don’t Let Your Guard Down
The Forestry Commission isn’t letting up. They’re still reminding everyone that winter can turn dangerous fast. All it takes is a shift in the wind or another dry spell, and we’re right back where we started.
Just because the alert ended doesn’t mean the risk is gone. It just means things are a little better for now. If you burn, do it responsibly.
We’ll keep watching for fire updates and safety news that matters to South Carolina communities.
