Walterboro Fire Department

05/25/2026

To our neighbors here in Walterboro and across Colleton County:
As we gather with family and friends today, let us pause to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day.
The Walterboro Fire Department pays our deepest respects to the fallen heroes of our military who laid down their lives for our country. We understand the call to serve, but today is dedicated to those who gave their all to protect the freedoms we hold dear.
We are forever grateful. Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸🚒

05/16/2026

🚨 Hurricane Season is Almost Here, Walterboro! 🚨
As we gear up for another hurricane season in the Lowcountry, we want to make sure you and your family are ready. Preparation is your best defense when severe weather targets our coast!
Take a few minutes this weekend to review your household plan and complete these essential steps:
• 📍 Know Your Zone: Do you know your official evacuation zone? Storm surges and coastal weather impact us directly here in Colleton County. Check the official SCEMD map today at hurricane.sc/know-your-zone or download the SC Emergency Manager app.
• 🎒 Build Your Kit: Double-check your emergency supplies. Make sure you have enough water, non-perishable food, backup batteries, flashlights, and first-aid gear to last several days. Don't wait until a storm is on the radar to hit the stores!
• 🚗 Plan Your Route: Review the local evacuation routes, especially around I-95, and know exactly where you'll go if an order is issued.
• 📱 Stay Informed: Make sure your mobile devices are set up to receive severe weather alerts and local public safety broadcasts.
Let’s work together to keep our community safe. Preparation starts now!

05/04/2026

Happy Star Wars Day from Walterboro! We traveled to Tatooine, but the Jawas are already stealing our equipment, the hoses are a mess, and we're officially running 'Pump Gperations.' At least we remembered to ch6ck our gaugees! 🚒🪐 May the 4th be with you!

04/30/2026

SCFC to lift burning ban for all counties Friday: Officials urge vigilance while burning outdoors as drought conditions persist

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the State Forester's Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m., Friday, May 1.

Agency officials believe the combination of rain, elevated relative humidity, improved overnight recovery and a lack of significant wind in the forecast warrant removing all remaining counties from outdoor burning restrictions.

“Many areas of the state have seen rainfall this week, and higher relative humidity and fuel moisture continue to mitigate significant fire potential,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “Though we expect even more rain across more of the state in the next week, people who choose to burn outdoors should still exercise vigilance as the rain we have received has not changed the state’s drought status.”

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-BurningBanToBeLiftedForRemaningCounties-20260430.pdf

04/28/2026

SCFC TO LIFT BURNING BAN FOR 12 UPSTATE COUNTIES WEDNESDAY

The South Carolina Forestry Commission will lift the State Forester's Burning Ban for 12 counties in the Piedmont region of the state, effective at 7 a.m., Wednesday, April 29.
The counties coming off the burning ban are Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and York (see map).
READ THE FULL RELEASE: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-BurningBanToBeLiftedFor12Counties-20260428.pdf

04/23/2026

The Rice Festival, in collaboration with local and state officials, has decided to cancel the fireworks show. The risk of continuing under the South Carolina statewide burn ban is too great to potentially put the community we love in harm's way. While this is disappointing for us all, the safety of our community remains our top priority. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating together throughout the rest of the festival!

04/22/2026

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particulates for the following counties in South Carolina:

Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and Williamsburg, along with Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia.

The Air Quality Alert is in effect through Thursday, April 23rd. An Air Quality Alert means that the fine particulate concentrations within the specified area may approach or exceed unhealthy standards due to large wildfires burning over southern Georgia.

Southerly winds on the west side of high pressure centered just off the Southeast coast will continue transport smoke from the southern Georgia wildfires into South Carolina and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As of the early afternoon hours Wednesday, air quality was already deteriorating over the CSRA region and the Midlands. As stable conditions develop this evening and overnight, smoke is expected to expand in coverage and become more noticeable. Smoke from the wildfires is expected to continue to affect the region on Thursday.

SCDES recommends that individuals with respiratory health issues limit time spent outdoors and/or move all activities indoors to avoid the smoke or fine particulates. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke and fine particulates from getting inside. Please note that locations closest to the wildfire activity are more likely to experience smoke at any given time.

South Carolina Air Quality Forecast: https://des.sc.gov/programs/bureau-air-quality/air-quality-forecast
For more information about fine particulates, please visit: https://fire.airnow.gov
For more information about wildfires/prescribed burns, please visit: https://www.scfc.gov/

If you see or smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

04/20/2026

Please be advised that the statewide burn ban remains active until further notice.
Conditions are still not safe for outdoor burning. Please hold off on any fire pits, brush burning, or campfires to help keep our community safe and prevent wildfires! 🛑

04/16/2026

🚨 URGENT: STATEWIDE BURN BAN IN EFFECT 🚨
Due to extremely dry conditions and elevated wildfire risks, a statewide burn ban has been officially issued. All open burning is currently prohibited, and all active burning permits have been suspended until further notice.
With the current weather conditions, even a small spark can spread rapidly. Please do your part to keep our communities, forests, and first responders safe:
🚫 No burning leaves, branches, or yard debris.
🚫 Avoid using equipment that could create sparks near dry grass.
🚫 Properly dispose of cigarette butts and matches.
📲 For full details and guidelines, please read the official update here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CvR3T1wpq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
🔥 Help us spread the word! Please SHARE this post to make sure your friends and neighbors stay informed. Stay safe, everyone!

SC Forestry Commission to issue statewide burning ban; restriction on all outdoor burning goes into effect at 7 a.m. Friday

COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, effective at 7 a.m. Friday, April 17.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

Forestry Commission officials cite a particularly dangerous mix of elevated wildfire risk factors through the weekend that warrant limiting all ignitions in the interest of public safety.

Rapidly escalating drought conditions across the state, a critical decrease in relative humidities over the next several days and gusty winds that are expected to accompany an approaching cold front will combine to create extreme fire danger.

"When it’s this dry – energy release component values are at high-to-critical levels – we’re just as likely, if not more, to see wildfires that are fuel-driven rather than wind-driven. Add the other volatile conditions of increased wind and lower relative humidity, and it becomes an especially precarious situation,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. "These conditions not only increase the likelihood of wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly, but would also make them more difficult for firefighters to control.”

While the ban does not apply to fires used for the preparation of food or fires used in appropriate enclosures (portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material that conforms with all applicable South Carolina fire codes), Forestry Commission officials urge the utmost caution burning outdoors under these exemptions.

Likewise, citizens should exercise extreme vigilance operating any equipment that could create sparks, avoid parking on dry grass and refrain from using fireworks.

The ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.

Shareable release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-StateForestersBurningBan-20260416.pdf

04/08/2026

Red flag discontinued for our area 

SCFC to lift Red Flag Fire Alert for 25 counties Thursday
COLUMBIA—The South Carolina Forestry Commission is lifting the Red Flag Fire Alert for 25 counties, effective at 6 a.m., Thursday, April 9.

The counties for which the alert is being discontinued are Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg (see map).

Agency officials say the weather factors that prompted the Wednesday alert, primarily the low relative humidity and gusty winds, are expected to moderate in some areas, but will still be present at near critical levels in the western part of the state.

Although the lack of significant rainfall across most of the state is keeping fuels dry, the current overall conditions in the state’s eastern counties are less volatile. Even without high winds, the dry weather and intensifying drought conditions are expected to remain at least through April.

Although the Red Flag Fire Alert has been lifted, the Forestry Commission still urges vigilance when burning outdoors. State law requires anyone planning to burn outdoors (outside of city limits) to notify the Forestry Commission in advance and take the proper precautions. Those include clearing a firebreak around the burn area, having water and/or tools on standby to keep the fire contained and never leaving a fire unattended.

The Red Flag Fire Alert will remain in effect for all other counties until further notice.

Press release:https://www.scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Advisory-SCFCLiftingRedFlagFireAlertFor25Counties-20260409.pdf