Beaufort County bans outdoor burning ‘until further notice.’ Here’s why
Effective immediately, outdoor burning is banned in unincorporated parts of Beaufort County “until further notice,” the county announced Friday.
The ban was announced after the South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert that discouraged outdoor burning due to “stronger-than-normal wind gusts and low relative humidity.”
The fire alert is also intended to “reduce the strain on local fire departments and other first responders who need to remain available for COVID-19 response.”
According to Beaufort County code, when the forestry commission issues a red flag alert, no outdoor burning is permitted in unincorporated parts of the county.
The county’s announcement comes as many residents have pushed for a temporary ban on open burning due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
“The Coronavirus’ impact is made more serious from the burning that continues unabated in the County, and yet it appears you are choosing to ignore the increased risk to your constituents,” Lady’s Island resident Janet Schaffer wrote to officials in mid-March.
Jim Enter, another resident, said open burning in his area has put elderly residents at risk. He wrote public officials, mentioning two residents “in the ‘high risk’ group for the Coronavirus ... both older and suffering from respiratory issues.
“With the governor declaring a ‘state of emergency,’” Enter wrote, “we request that county council stop all discretionary burning within heavy populated areas until the pandemic has ended.”
County officials, however, previously cited advice from DHEC when not instituting a temporary ban on opening burning.
According to an April 1 email from Rhonda Thompson, chief of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Bureau of Air Quality, “Smoke from yard debris or open burning can impact public health. Burning is always discouraged, and other options, such as composting and grinding, are strongly encouraged at all times.
DHEC has no knowledge of any association with smoke from yard debris or open burning with any type of virus, especially COVID-19. Therefore, we advise all jurisdictions to enforce their burning ordinances as they would under normal conditions.”
