By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Six years ago, tens of thousands of acres of western North Carolina were on fire, including parts of Clay County. More than 20 fires consumed a lot of woodlands, some meadows and a few structures in the region.
To reduce the likelihood of wildfires, Clay County Ranger Bob Ray shared a reminder for residents to be vigilant and use caution with outdoor burning. ”Fires left unattended can get out of hand quickly, becoming wildfires that may threaten lives and property,” Ray said in an article he submitted earlier this week. “Escaped fires due to careless backyard burning continue to be the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina.”
From 2021 to 2022, North Carolina had 6,887 wildfires which burned 26,958 acres, according to Ray. “Only one percent of those wildfires were directly linked to a natural ignition source such as lightning,” Ray said. “The other 99 percent of wildfires during that time were directly related to human activity.”
Clay County Fire Chief Brian Anderson said Clay County firefighters are currently seeing more brush fires than structure fires. “About three of four of the brush fires have been really close to burning houses,” he said. While those fires are not always related to people burning their yard debris or trash, they are usually because the yards have not been cleaned of debris.
“It’s because people aren’t cleaning up dry leaves, tree branches and other yard debris which burns easily and fuels fires,” Anderson said. “People should have a buffer of 50 feet around their houses and other buildings, especially in wooded areas.”
Ray added, “Always use caution with any outdoor burning. Even when burn bans are not in effect, weather conditions may not be favorable for outdoor fires. Outdoor burning is discouraged during periods of low humidity and high winds. Taking these measures can reduce the possibility of wildfires.”
On behalf of the forestry department, Ray encouraged everyone to have a valid burn permit before burning. These are available at N.C. Forest Service Offices, authorized permitting agent or at: www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
He also shared fire safety tips from the North Carolina Forest Service:
• Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
• Keep your fire small, not tall.
• Be sure you are fully prepared before burning.
• To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire.
• Keep a phone nearby.
• Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up burning.
• Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. Drown all embers, not just the red ones. When soaked, stir the coals and soak them again. Make sure everything is wet and that embers are cold to the touch. If you do not have water, mix enough dirt or sand with the embers to extinguish the fire, being careful not to bury the fire.
• Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
• Never leave your fire. Stay with it until it is completely out.
Ray said properly extinguishing campfires will also reduce problems with wildfires. These guidelines are:
• Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible.
• Pour lots of water on the fire, drown all embers, not just the red ones.
• Pour until the hissing sound stops.
• Stir campfire ashes and embers with a shovel.
• Scrape the sticks and logs to remove any embers.
• Stir and make sure everything is wet and that embers are cold to the touch.
• If you do not have water, use dirt. Pour dirt or sand on the fire, mixing enough dirt or sand with the embers to extinguish the fire.
• Continue adding or stirring until all remaining material is cool.
• Do not bury the fire as the fire will continue to smolder and could catch roots on fire that will eventually get to the surface and start a wildfire.
For Clay County residents who need guidance about what sort of yard debris to remove or who may need assistance with the cleanup, call Anderson at (828) 389-6905. Anderson said he may be able to find someone to help with yard cleanups.
More details about fire safety, preventing wildfires and loss of property, is available at: www.ncforestservice.gov and www.smokeybear.com. For details about creating defensible space to protect the space around your home from wildfire, visit: www.resistwildfirenc.org.