Columbus joins Horry with burning ban

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Very hot, dry weather has prompted a burning ban for Columbus County, a day after a ban was initiated in Horry County.

     Bans on outdoor burning are also in place in other area counties.

     Effective at 5 p.m. Thursday, the Columbus County ban burns all open burning within 100 feet of any structure, has been ordered by the Columbus County Fire Marshal’s Office and the North Carolina Forest Service.

     “This ban prohibits the burning of leaves, branches, or other plant materials, in addition to trash, lumber or other debris, within 100 feet of any structure,” the order signed by Columbus County Fire Marshal Shannon Blackman said.

     Those found in violation will be ordered to extinguish the fire, and could face criminal and civil penalties, the order said.

     Weather is the reason for the burning ban, an Horry County news release said.

     “The ban has been placed due to the extreme fire danger as a result of the heat, lack of rain, and low relative humidity,” the news releases said. “Any and all outdoor burning, included permitted burns, are strictly prohibited during the ban, and those involved in any open burning would be in violation of the law.”

     Look for updates on this story as events warrant and in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.