The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources initiated in August a statewide ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits. The statewide ban was extended in Ashe County this week to include all burning and is in effect until the state ban is lifted.

As recommended by the Ashe County fire marshal and approved by the county board of commissioners on Monday, all outdoor burning is banned until further notice (with the exception of contained manufactured cooking devices, such as a charcoal grill, used within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling).

Anyone with questions about burning beyond 100 feet of a dwelling can contact the N.C. Forest Service at 846-2471. For questions about burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, contact the Ashe County fire marshal at 219-2513. Violations are subject to state or local citations and/or fines.

The ban on open burning is necessary because of the dry weather conditions and an increase in fire activity statewide. By North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning statewide, regardless of whether a permit was issued. Open burning includes burning leaves, branches and other plant material. In all cases, it is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials.

The ban will be enforced by local law enforcement agents, county fire marshals and the N.C. Division of Forest Resources, an agency within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.