The North Carolina Department of Agriculture announced on April 16 that the statewide ban on open burning will remain in effect, with enforcement actions continuing due to ongoing wildfire activity and persistent dry conditions. Since the ban was enacted on March 28, there have been 554 wildfires that have burned more than 2,200 acres throughout the state.
The continuation of the burn ban is important because current weather conditions—such as drought, high temperatures, low humidity, and lack of rainfall—are making it easier for fires to start and spread. These circumstances put pressure on firefighting resources and increase risks for communities.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said, “Even with a burn ban in place we are continuing to see significant wildfire activity across the state because of conditions. Persistent drought, warmer temperatures, low humidity, and no rainfall mean fires start quickly, spread quickly and burn intensely, which makes them harder to contain, control and extinguish. Our N.C. Forest Service staff will continue to monitor conditions and respond to wildfires across the state, but the public can help by following the burn ban and taking care with anything that can start a fire.”
Of all recent wildfires since March 28, only four were caused by lightning strikes while preliminary data shows that at least 152 were human-caused; most others remain under investigation or are undetermined. Since implementation of the burn ban, authorities have issued 150 citations for illegal burning.
During a state-issued burn ban period like this one in North Carolina municipalities such as Winston-Salem serve their residents through local governance structures including city councils responsible for enacting laws and setting budgets according to official information. The City of Winston-Salem also manages critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants capable of processing up to 91 million gallons daily along with extensive water mains and sewer lines as reported by its website.
Residents are urged not only to comply with restrictions on open burning but also use caution around potential ignition sources such as farm equipment or discarded cigarettes during these high-risk periods. While certain activities like using vehicles on dry grass or operating machinery are not classified as open burning—and thus not directly restricted—they may still contribute to new fire starts.
Officials encourage people statewide—including those living within municipal boundaries served by cities like Winston-Salem—to stay informed about local fire danger levels using online maps or statements provided by agencies such as the N.C. Forest Service.
