Burton Fire Department giving tips on properly burning yard debris

Beaufort, S.C. (WSAV) – A yard debris fire broke out in Burton on Monday, spreading across a lawn and damaging a nearby mobile home.

Dan Byrne with the department emphasizes that this is a common issue, especially after big storms roll through. “The storm only increases the danger of outdoor yard burning because obviously after a storm, there’s much more to burn. But it’s a problem that we’ve had all year,” says Byrne.

Since 2022, the Burton Fire Department has been called out to eight structures damaged by yard debris fires that got out of control.

“Most of those actually happened in the neighbor’s yard that spread across and set their neighbors, either their house or their shed on fire. So, it’s a continuing problem for us,” says Byrne.

The biggest risk with these fires is that they’re often left unattended, causing unwarranted danger to the community. “They will leave the embers and think that the fire’s out and they walk away thinking everything’s fine.” But, in many scenarios, it doesn’t end up well.

Byrne says, “You have got to attend to that fire from the time you light it and then make sure it’s completely extinguished, flooded with water, stir it, make sure it gets down to the base of that fire and all embers out. It just takes one ember, which can smolder for hours, if not days, to get a good little gust, a breeze. And we got another fire again.”

Before you get to burning – make sure you’re equipped to do so. Byrne advises the public to look into rules and regulations surrounding burning yard debris.

“The big thing is the fire shouldn’t be any more than about three feet by five feet.  Five feet in size. have a continuous water source to extinguish the fire, which is generally a garden hose that will extend beyond the fire, not just barely get to the fire, so you can contain it,” says Byrne. “If it does get out of control, make sure it’s constantly monitored by a competent, sober adult that monitors it, again, from the time that you light that fire until all the ashes are completely out and it’s at least 50 feet from a structure in Beaufort County. It needs to be 75 feet from a structure, but at least 50 feet.”

If you’re in an unincorporated area of Beaufort County, you can go to the Beaufort County website to read the burning ordinance. If you’re in an incorporated area such as Port Royal, Beaufort check with your local government or fire department for your burning ordinance. The ordinances will have rules and regulations, which will guide safety.

Byrne says if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact your local fire department. They will be happy to drive out and make sure you’re burning safely.

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