Forest City Fire Rescue

05/05/2026

Rutherfordton Fire & Rescue is now accepting applications for the 2026 S.P.A.R.K. Fire Camp!

Camp runs July 27-31, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily at the Rutherfordton Fire Department. Participants will gain hands-on experience in fire service training, explore emergency response systems, and engage directly with fire personnel and equipment.

For more information or to register, contact Rutherfordton Fire Dept. Assistant Fire Chief Robbie Samuel at 828-287-7367 or [email protected].

04/30/2026

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

04/15/2026

The statewide burn ban remains in effect as of April 15, 2026.

Since the state-issued ban on open burning was enacted March 28, a total of 554 wildfires has burned more than 2,200 acres across the state. With little rainfall or improvement expected over the next 7-10 days, the statewide burn ban and enforcement action will continue until further notice.

Of the 554 wildfires that have burned since the burn ban took effect, only four have been determined to be the result of lightning strikes. Preliminary data indicates that 152 of those 554 wildfires were determined to be human caused, with the remainder listed as unknown or undetermined, likely pending law enforcement investigation and action. Since the state’s burn ban took effect, 150 citations have been issued for illegal burning.

During a state-issued burn ban, the same N.C. Forest Service personnel providing initial and extended attack for wildfire response are providing the necessary enforcement action to support the ban on open burning. Reducing the number of new ignitions is critical for sustaining adequate resource availability for an extended period, making state-issued bans a necessary tool for keeping wildfires contained and as small as possible until fully extinguished.

The public is urged to abide by the burn ban and to use extreme caution with farm equipment, machines, mowers, vehicles on dry grass, smoking materials such as ci******es, anything that can throw a spark. In current high-risk conditions, these could be a possible fire source. While not classified as open burning and not affected by the state’s ban on open burning, they are still contributors to new fire starts across the state.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/04/14/statewide-burn-ban-and-enforcement-continue-dry-conditions-persist

04/14/2026

It's that time again! Did you know that a single donation can save up to 3 lives. Give us 10 minutes, give someone hope.

03/30/2026

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.

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

02/18/2026

Come on out Friday and give a little blood for a great cause.

12/12/2025

FCFR responded to assist Ellenboro with a structure fire on 12/11/25. Heavy fire conditions were met upon arrival and a quick extinguishment was executed by personnel from all the responding departments.

12/10/2025

Stay safe this winter by putting a freeze on winter fires. Home fires happen more often during the colder months, so now is the perfect time to share a few simple reminders:

✅ Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources
✅ Plug only one heat producing appliance into an outlet
✅ Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month
✅ Have your chimney cleaned and inspected each year
✅ Keep generators outside and away from windows
✅ Store cooled ashes in a metal container at least 10 feet from your home

A few extra precautions now can make a big difference all season long. Stay warm and stay fire smart!

12/10/2025

FCFR responded to assist Bostic with a working structure fire on 12-9-2025. Our guys have been busy lately with multiple working fires in town and around the county the last few weeks with colder weather arriving.

10/07/2025

October 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week, and this year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Forest City Fire Rescue is joining the nationwide effort to help keep our community safe by sharing simple steps to use these powerful batteries safely.

✅ BUY safely – Choose only listed products with safety certifications like UL, ETL, or CSA.

⚡ CHARGE safely – Use the original cords, follow manufacturer instructions, and charge on a hard surface. Unplug once it’s fully charged.

♻️ RECYCLE responsibly – Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash! Visit call2recycle.org to find a safe recycling location near you.

For more information, visit https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week.