SC Forestry Commission Lifts Red Flag Fire Alert for Remaining Counties
- The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) lifted the Red Flag Fire Alert for the remaining counties in the state at 6 a.m.
- The final stage of the lift applied to counties in the Piedmont and Midlands regions, as well as Aiken and Barnwell.
- The removal of the Red Flag Fire Alert occurred in two stages.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) lifted the Red Flag Fire Alert for the remaining counties in the state at 6 a.m. On Friday, April 10, 2026. This action concludes a phased removal of the alert following improvements in weather conditions across the region.
The final stage of the lift applied to counties in the Piedmont and Midlands regions, as well as Aiken and Barnwell. State forestry officials cited improving weather as the primary reason for ending the alert in these areas.
Phased Removal of Fire Alerts
The removal of the Red Flag Fire Alert occurred in two stages. On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the SCFC lifted the alert at 6 a.m. For 25 counties after weather conditions began to moderate in various parts of the state. The counties included in that initial lift were:
- Allendale
- Bamberg
- Beaufort
- Berkeley
- Calhoun
- Charleston
- Chesterfield
- Clarendon
- Colleton
- Darlington
- Dillon
- Dorchester
- Florence
- Georgetown
- Hampton
- Horry
- Jasper
- Kershaw
- Lancaster
- Lee
- Marion
- Marlboro
- Orangeburg
- Sumter
- Williamsburg
Prior to the Thursday lift, the state had been under a Red Flag Fire Alert on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Officials noted at the time that gusty winds and low relative humidity had driven the alert, though near-critical conditions persisted in western South Carolina until the final lift on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Ongoing Drought and Safety Warnings
Despite the lifting of the alerts and a more favorable weather forecast, the SCFC has warned residents that fuels remain dry. Officials attributed this to a lack of significant rainfall across much of the state and intensifying drought conditions that are expected to persist through the end of April.
Because of these conditions, the commission continues to urge South Carolinians to maintain extreme vigilance
when burning outdoors.
State law mandates that any person planning to burn outdoors outside of city limits must notify the Forestry Commission in advance. The law also requires the following precautions to be taken:
- Clearing a firebreak around the area being burned.
- Having tools and/or water on standby to ensure the fire remains contained.
- Remaining with the fire until it is completely extinguished, preferably using water, and never leaving a burn unattended.
Monitoring and Resources
To assist the public, media, and fire departments, the South Carolina Forestry Commission provides a mobile application. The app allows users to view current wildfires and burn notifications and check the latest fire weather.
The application also provides push notifications for critical news, including burning bans and red flag fire alerts. Additional resources and information regarding burning regulations in South Carolina are available on the SCFC website.