Attention Buncombe County residents:
Due to a high risk of forest fires no open burning is allowed in Buncombe County until further notice.
The NC Forest Service has called for a burning ban for 32 Western NC Counties including Buncombe. This ban is effective Friday April 3, 2020 at 5 p.m. The ban shall remain in effect until further notice.
With regards to camp fires, those are not allowed when a burn ban is in place. However, fires that are within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling are under the jurisdiction of the local fire marshal. At the present time, the City of Asheville has banned all recreational fires including open fire pits and camp fires within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food and are exempt from the burn ban.
The Buncombe County Fire Marshal’s office is allowing recreational fires within 50 feet of a structure as long as it is contained inside a barbecue pit or fire pit to be used for warming or cooking. The fire must be maintained and no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.