Local crews readying as increased fire risk remains

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) — A statewide burn ban remains in effect Monday, and local crews are preparing for the possibility of new fires.

Firefighters across the Carolinas are continuing to battle multiple brush and wildfires amid dry, windy conditions that forced some residents to temporarily evacuate.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued the ban Saturday evening for all counties. It prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, and campfires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Colt Roy, the assistant chief of Central Berkeley Fire and EMS, said the agency has responded to five or six calls per day related to people burning outside since Thursday. He urged residents to take the ban seriously.

“This ban covers any outside open flames,” Roy said. “That’s burn pits, burn barrels, piles of leaves, stumps, sticks, yard debris, whatever you have. Do not do it.”

A new wildfire started Monday afternoon at Wass Lane in Moncks Corner, but officials said the blaze was fully under control.

Though conditions are expected to improve over the next few days, local agencies are preparing in case additional fires spark.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department has positioned its brush fire units at the Carolina Park and Dunes West stations and increased staffing.

In the meantime, Roy said people should call 911 immediately if they see an open flame outdoors.

“The conditions are such that an ember from that fire under the right circumstances could cause a very, very big problem, not just for the fire department but for the community itself,” he said.

A map of active wildfires in South Carolina can be found on the forestry commission’s website.