Press release from Haywood County
In response to ongoing dry and hazardous conditions, The Haywood County Fire Marshal’s Office has implemented an official burn ban for Haywood County under the authority of the Haywood County Fire Prevention Ordinance, NC Fire Code Section 307, to include the towns of Maggie Valley, Clyde, Canton, and Waynesville effective at 5 p.m. today, November 8th, 2023. This precautionary measure is aimed at protecting lives, property, and the natural environment as the area faces an increased risk of wildfires. Any burn permits previously issued are now void. The burn ban will remain in effect until further notice.
The North Carolina Forest Service has also implemented a burn ban for many NC counties including Haywood.
Under current weather conditions brush fires spread faster, are harder to contain, and are far more dangerous than usual and can have the potential to cause large property loss. Haywood County residents and visitors are asked to cooperate fully with the burn ban and exercise extreme caution during this time of heightened fire risk. Fire safety measures, such as maintaining a defensible space of 30 feet of clearance from combustibles around homes and keeping emergency kits on hand, are strongly encouraged.
Haywood County officials will continue to monitor weather conditions and work closely with emergency management agencies to evaluate the need for the burn ban. Updates and revisions to the burn ban will be communicated to the public as necessary.
Violating the burn ban may result in fines up to $250 in accordance with local ordinances.
The safety and well-being of our community members are our top priorities, and we thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding during this critical time.
For more information or inquiries, please contact Haywood County’s Public Information Officer Dillon Huffman at 828-246-2950 or dillon.huffman@haywoodcountync.gov.
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