Burton Fire District frustrated by outdoor fires during red flag alert; officials urge residents not to burn

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - The Burton Fire District says it’s already responded to 30 outdoor fires over the last four months — a pace that puts the district about halfway to last year’s record-breaking total.

Fire officials say the spike comes as South Carolina deals with dry, windy conditions that can quickly turn a small burn pile into a fast-moving brush fire.

They’re urging residents to avoid outdoor burning, especially when a red flag fire alert is issued.

Two outdoor fires in one morning

Crews responded to two outdoor fires Wednesday morning in the district’s coverage area.

One involved someone illegally burning debris in their yard, which fire officials said violated the Beaufort County burn ordinance.

Under county rules, residents in unincorporated areas typically must contact the South Carolina Forestry Commission before burning. But when a red flag alert is active, officials say outdoor burning is illegal.

Residents who live inside a city or town are asked to contact their local municipality to confirm their specific burn ordinance.

The second call was a brush fire in the Forest Fields community, where flames spread across several acres before multiple crews contained it.

House fire response happening at the same time

The outdoor fires came as crews were also handling a house fire that sent one man to the hospital and left him without a home, officials said.

Assistant Fire Chief Dan Byrne said repeated outdoor fire calls are frustrating because many are preventable and can quickly become dangerous.

“Somebody did something they were not supposed to do, or they failed to do something we’re supposed to do that resulted in the fire,” Byrne said. “You have got to stand by that fire at all times with a continuous water source to be able to put that fire out that reaches the burn pile all the way around.”

Byrne added that crews often find the same issues when they respond to outdoor fires.

“It’s very frustrating when we continue to respond to them for the same reasons again,” Byrne said. “They’re burning yard debris and just not watching or paying attention to it; they don’t have a water source outlet, or they’re using gasoline. Some basic common fire safety sense, and they aren’t paying attention to that.”

Possible penalties

Fire officials say anyone caught illegally burning can face fines or jail time from code enforcement officers or the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

Residents with questions about when or where outdoor burning is allowed are encouraged to contact their local fire station before starting a fire.