Wildfires

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Wildfires can be attributed to many different causes, but most of them involve human carelessness. Escaped debris burns are the number one cause of wildfires in South Carolina, responsible for more wildfire ignitions than all other causes combined. Other leading causes include equipment use (dragging chains, etc.), arson, sparking power lines, structure fires, campfires, and lightning.

In a typical year, fire crews in South Carolina respond to nearly 1,300 wildfires that burn more than 8,000 acres. South Carolina's wildfire season usually occurs between late winter and early spring. The largest wildfire ever to occur in South Carolina was in April 1976 when 30,000 acres burned in Horry County. The state's worst 12-month period occurred between July 1980 and June 1981 when 14,405 fires were reported.

Before a Wildfire

If you see a wildfire, call 9-1-1. Don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly and clearly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.

 

Before the Fire Approaches Your House

  • Evacuate. Evacuate your pets and all family members who are not essential to preparing the home. Anyone with medical or physical limitations and the young and the elderly should be evacuated immediately.
  • Wear protective clothing.
  • Remove combustibles. Clear items that will burn from around the house: wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc. Move them outside of your defensible space.
  • Close/protect openings. Close outside attic, eaves and basement vents, windows, doors, pet doors, etc. Remove flammable drapes and curtains. Close all shutters, blinds or heavy non-combustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat.
  • Close inside doors/open damper. Close alt doors inside the house to prevent draft. Open the damper on your fireplace, but close the fireplace screen.
  • Shut off gas. Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source.
  • Water. Connect garden hoses. Fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs or other large containers with water.
  • Pumps. If you have gas-powered pumps for water, make sure they are fueled and ready.
  • Ladder. Place a ladder against the house in clear view.
  • Car. Back your car into the driveway and roll up the windows.
  • Garage doors. Disconnect any automatic garage door openers so that doors can still be opened by hand if the power goes out. Close all garage doors.
  • Valuables. Place valuable papers, mementos and anything "you can't live without" inside the car in the garage, ready for quick departure. Any pets still with you should also be put in the car.

Preparing to Leave

  • Lights. Turn on outside lights and leave a light on in every room to make the house more visible in heavy smoke.
  • Don't lock up. Leave doors and windows closed but unlocked. It may be necessary for firefighters to gain quick entry into your home to fight fire. The entire area will be isolated and patrolled by sheriff's deputies or police.
During a Wildfire

Survival in a Vehicle

  • This is dangerous and should only be done in an emergency, but you can survive the firestorm if you stay in your car. It is much less dangerous than trying to run from a fire on foot.
  • Roll up windows and close air vents. Drive slowly with headlights on. Watch for other vehicles and pedestrians. Do not drive through heavy smoke.
  • If you have to stop, park away from the heaviest trees and brush. Turn headlights on and ignition off. Roll up windows and close air vents.
  • Get on the floor and cover up with a blanket or coat.
  • Stay in the vehicle until the main fire passes.
  • Stay in the vehicle. Do not run! The engine may stall and not restart. Air currents may rock the car. Some smoke and sparks may enter the vehicle and the temperature inside will increase. Metal gas tanks and containers rarely explode.

If You Are Trapped at Home

  • If you do find yourself trapped by wildfire inside your home, stay inside and away from outside walls. Close doors, but leave them unlocked. Keep your entire family together and remain calm.

If Caught in the Open

  • The best temporary shelter is in a sparse fuel area. On a steep mountainside, the back side is safer. Avoid canyons, natural "chimneys" and saddles.
  • If a road is nearby, lie face down along the road cut or in the ditch on the uphill side. Cover yourself with anything that will shield you from the fire's heat.
  • If hiking in the back country, seek a depression with sparse fuel. Clear fuel away from the area while the fire is approaching and then lie face down in the depression and cover yourself. Stay down until after the fire passes!
After a Wildfire
  • Check the roof immediately. Put out any roof fires, sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden burning sparks.
  • If you have a fire, get your neighbors to help fight it.
  • The water you put into your pool or hot tub and other containers will come in handy now. If the power is out, try connecting a hose to the outlet on your water heater.
  • For several hours after the fire, maintain a "fire watch." Re-check for smoke and sparks throughout the house.
Are you preparing to burn?

South Carolina state law requires citizens to notify the South Carolina Forestry Commission before burning outdoors and to take the proper precautions. There are three types of outdoor burns for which the Forestry Commission takes notifications:

  1. Residential yard debris burns
  2. Construction-related/land-clearing burns
  3. Forestry, wildlife, and agricultural burns (also known as prescribed, or controlled, burns)

How to make notification for a residential yard debris burn or construction-related/land-clearing burn (excluding grills, campfires, portable fireplaces, permanent fire pits, chimineas, etc.):

Online

The fastest, easiest way to notify the Forestry Commission of your residential yard debris burn is through our website. Simply provide your county, address, name and contact information, and you’re all set! Make your online notification here: scfc.gov/notify

By phone

Citizens can also make notification with the Forestry Commission for their residential yard debris burns by calling the toll-free number for the county in which they live. Find your county’s toll-free burn notification number here.

 How to make notification for a prescribed burn:

Prescribed burns are larger-scale burns intended specifically for agriculture, wildlife, and/or forestry purposes. These purposes include burning for wildfire hazard reduction, brush control, endangered species management, wildlife habitat improvement, plant disease control, crop residue removal and site preparation for planting trees or agricultural crops. All burning for forestry, wildlife, and agriculture purposes must comply with South Carolina’s Smoke Management Guidelines.

Citizens planning to conduct a prescribed burn must call (800) 777-3473 and speak to a Forestry Commission dispatcher, who will walk them through the approval process. You will be asked to provide:

  • Name of person in charge of burn
  • Phone number of person in charge
  • CPFM number (if applicable) of person in charge
  • County in which burning is to be conducted
  • Specific location of your burn
  • Purpose of the burn
  • Acreage to be burned
  • Tons of available fuel per acre
  • Nearest smoke-sensitive area
  • Distance to smoke-sensitive area
  • The time you plan to start

What are the proper precautions for a residential yard debris burn?

  • limit their fires to woody and/or vegetative material like leaves, limbs, pine straw and branches;
  • clear a firebreak around the burning site, preferably at least as wide as the fire/pile itself;
  • have the right equipment (water, tools) available to keep the fire under control; and\
  • never leave the fire unattended for any reason
  • put the fire completely out with water

Additional Wildfire Resources