Cliffside Area Fire & Rescue

05/25/2026

05/11/2026

Today marks a major milestone for Cliffside Fire & Rescue and the community we proudly serve. We are excited to officially announce that we have increased our staffing level from one 24-hour firefighter per shift to two 24-hour firefighters per shift.

This enhancement strengthens our ability to respond to emergencies, improves service to our citizens, and helps ensure the safety and effectiveness of our operations each and every day.

This transition would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and flexibility of our firefighters. For sixty-five years, the members of Cliffside Fire & Rescue have continually answered the call, adapted to meet the needs of our growing community, and remained committed to providing the highest level of service possible. We are proud of the strong foundation built by those before us and look forward to continuing that legacy for generations to come.

We also extend our appreciation to our Board of Directors for their support and commitment to the continued progress of our organization. Their confidence in our mission and investment in the future of Cliffside Fire & Rescue have been instrumental in making this improvement a reality.

Most importantly, thank you to our community for your continued support, encouragement, and trust in our department. Because of you, we are able to continue growing and improving the services we provide to our service area as well as to our mutual aid partners across Rutherford, Cleveland & Cherokee Counties.

While today is an important step forward, we know our work is never finished. We will continue striving to improve, grow, and provide the highest level of service possible for the citizens and visitors of our community. Thank you for believing in our department, standing behind our firefighters, and allowing us the privilege to serve this community we all call home.

05/03/2026

04/28/2026

The statewide burn ban remains in effect until further notice despite weekend rain in some areas. Persistent dry weather and increasing rainfall deficits from the last several months have left most of the state needing 10 inches of rain or more.

“While the rainfall we received over the weekend was a welcome sight, it offered little to no relief from widespread drought conditions while being nowhere near enough to reduce our wildfire risk,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Even the areas that received the heaviest amount of rain will quickly dry out from the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Until we get some additional rain and see more green-up in our forests, holding the burn ban in place statewide is the best option right now.”

While green-up and leaf-out are progressing at normal rate, low soil moisture, dry surface fuels and persistent low humidity are contributing to wildfire activity. For Western North Carolina, excessive forest fuels from Hurricane Helene are more available now than they were in 2025, low water levels in coastal areas have helped produce intense fire behavior where ground fire will likely be a long-term issue, and the Piedmont experienced 87 new wildfire starts over the weekend alone. Extended attack and mop-up efforts will be taxing and long-winded until drought conditions improve.

Read news release: https://bit.ly/497dNht

04/16/2026

APRIL 16, 2026 QUESTION OF THE DAY

Is the statewide burn ban still in effect?

Yes. Yes it is. All open burning is prohibited intil further notice.

For a status check on the statewide ban on open burning, check our social media pages, check our website, subscribe to receive alerts from us.

04/06/2026

As of April 6, 2026, the state-issued ban on open burning remains in effect for all 100 counties. The ban was enacted Saturday, March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions.

The ban prohibits outdoor burning of any kind, anywhere in the state, until further notice.

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions

04/04/2026

We want to thank everyone who came out to the Easter egg hunt and supported the Cliffside Fire Department today! It’s always so special to see our community come together and enjoy time with one another.🐣🚒