Think Before You Burn
Escaped debris burns are the #1 cause of wildfires in South Carolina. This carelessness accounted for nearly 60% of all SC wildfires in FY2020-21.
Not only does state law require citizens who live in unincorporated areas – that means outside of city/town limits – to notify the Forestry Commission before they burn (see county burn notification phone numbers at bottom of page), but it also requires burners to:
- limit fires to vegetative material like leaves, limbs and branches;
- clear a firebreak around the burn site;
- have the right personnel and equipment available (people/shovels/rakes/water) to keep the fire under control; and
- stay with the fire until it is completely out (drenched and/or cold to the touch).
In addition to recognizing your legal responsibilities when burning, use your common sense as well. Don't burn on windy days, especially when coupled with low humidity (≤30%). Winds can carry embers for more than a mile.
Watch our "Think Before You Burn" video below for a complete breakdown of how to conduct a proper outdoor debris burn.
| Toll-free phone numbers for yard debris burning notification in South Carolina | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Number | County | Number | |
| Abbeville | 1-800-895-7056 | Greenwood | 1-800-986-5327 | |
| Aiken | 1-800-895-7057 | Hampton | 1-800-986-5403 | |
| Allendale | 1-800-895-7058 | Horry | 1-800-986-5404 | |
| Anderson | 1-800-895-7059 | Jasper | 1-800-986-5405 | |
| Bamberg | 1-800-895-7060 | Kershaw | 1-800-705-8609 | |
| Barnwell | 1-800-895-7061 | Lancaster | 1-800-705-8610 | |
| Beaufort | 1-800-895-7062 | Laurens | 1-800-705-8611 | |
| Berkeley | 1-800-895-7063 | Lee | 1-800-705-8612 | |
| Calhoun | 1-800-895-7064 | Lexington | 1-800-705-8613 | |
| Charleston | 1-800-986-3593 | Marion | 1-800-705-8614 | |
| Cherokee | 1-800-986-3594 | Marlboro | 1-800-705-8615 | |
| Chester | 1-800-986-3595 | McCormick | 1-800-705-8616 | |
| Chesterfield | 1-800-986-3596 | Newberry | 1-800-705-8617 | |
| Clarendon | 1-800-986-3597 | Oconee | 1-800-705-8618 | |
| Colleton | 1-800-986-3599 | Orangeburg | 1-800-517-9636 | |
| Darlington | 1-800-986-3742 | Pickens | 1-800-517-9637 | |
| Dillon | 1-800-986-3745 | Richland | 1-800-517-9638 | |
| Dorchester | 1-800-986-3746 | Saluda | 1-800-517-9639 | |
| Edgefield | 1-800-986-5138 | Spartanburg | 1-800-517-9640 | |
| Fairfield | 1-800-986-5162 | Sumter | 1-800-517-9641 | |
| Florence | 1-800-986-5165 | Union | 1-800-517-9642 | |
| Georgetown | 1-800-986-5256 | Williamsburg | 1-800-517-9643 | |
| Greenville | 1-800-986-5299 | York | 1-800-517-9644 | |