Last Updated on March 22, 2026 3:45 pm
The North Carolina Forest Service is warning residents across the state to postpone outdoor burning as fire danger increases through the weekend and into next week.
Fire danger in the High Country is rated High on Sunday, March 22, and is forecast to rise to Very High on Monday, March 23, before conditions deteriorate further on Tuesday, March 24, when portions of western North Carolina could see Very High to Extreme fire danger.
The NC Forest Service cited a significant lack of rainfall over an extended period as the primary driver, noting that all of North Carolina is currently experiencing moderate to extreme drought. Hot, dry, and breezy conditions combined with poor overnight moisture recovery are keeping vegetative fuels — dry grasses, dead leaves, and other debris — primed to ignite and spread quickly.
The warning comes one day after Zionville Fire and NC Forest Service units responded to an escaped controlled burn on NC Highway 88 that threatened a barn before being brought under control.
The NC Forest Service is urging residents to take the following precautions:
Postpone all outdoor burning if possible
If you must burn, use extreme caution and take proper precautions
Use extreme caution with machinery and farm equipment that could serve as ignition sources
Call 911 immediately if a fire escapes — do not attempt to fight it yourself
Residents can check current fire danger conditions at climate.ncsu.edu/fire and find safe outdoor burning and wildfire prevention tips at preventwildfirenc.org.
Forecast courtesy of the North Carolina Forest Service.
