Crime & Public Safety

Cloud of smoke over Bluffton came from nearby Jasper County, fire officials say

Led by an eastern wind, a cloud of hazy, sometimes smelly smoke wafted over parts of the Bluffton area on Monday. It originated from three controlled burns in the neighboring Jasper County, local fire officials said.

Residents reported the presence and smell of smoke in the areas of Palmetto Bluff, New Riverside and S.C. 170 (Okatie Highway), according to the Bluffton Township Fire District.

Fire officials said the smoke is coming from three prescribed burns in Jasper County:

  • A 720-acre prescribed burn slightly north of Hardeeville
  • A 60-acre prescribed burn off Glasgow Landing Road (about 5 miles southwest of Palmetto Bluff)
  • A 1-acre debris burn in southern Hardeeville
Fire officials said a layer of smoke came to the Bluffton area Monday afternoon from three prescribed burns in the neighboring Jasper County. Controlled burns are common in the late winter and early spring, with experts saying they can promote ecological diversity and reduce the risk of wildfires.
Fire officials said a layer of smoke came to the Bluffton area Monday afternoon from three prescribed burns in the neighboring Jasper County. Controlled burns are common in the late winter and early spring, with experts saying they can promote ecological diversity and reduce the risk of wildfires. South Carolina Forestry Commission

Usually in the late winter and early spring, foresters conduct controlled burns to reduce the risk of wildfire, according to the South Carolina Fire Commission. The practice is also said to have ecological benefits: Fire can make wildlife’s travel easier by removing thick undergrowth in certain forested areas, and it can promote growth of plants like legumes and hardwood sprouts, the commission says.

On the SCFC’s map of current active burns across the state, the 720-acre and 60-acre fires near Beaufort County were categorized as “wildlife management” burns.

As of Monday afternoon, there were 64 total active burns in South Carolina, with the majority intended for wildlife management and the reduction of future wildfires.

This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:22 PM.

Evan McKenna
The Island Packet
Evan is a breaking news reporter for The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. A Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he reports on crime and safety across Beaufort and Jasper counties. For tips or story ideas, email emckenna@islandpacket.com or call 843-321-8375.
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