04/27/2026
JUST IN: The North Carolina Forest Service says the statewide burn ban will remain in place until further notice! Despite some rain this weekend, persistent dry weather and increasing rainfall deficits over the last several months have left most of the state needing 10 inches or more of rain.
“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.”
Western North Carolina: The debris left behind by Hurricane Helene has significantly increased the volume of available forest fuels compared to 2025, creating a high-risk environment for ignition.
Coastal Areas: Record-low water levels have triggered intense fire behavior. In these regions, ground fires, which burn organic matter beneath the surface, are expected to persist as a chronic, long-term problem.
The Piedmont: The region saw a sudden surge in activity over the weekend, with 87 new wildfires.
-Ethan