Between Saturday and Sunday the North Carolina Forest Service, with assistance from area volunteer fire departments, responded to a total of 14 brush fires.

Halifax County Ranger Jason Miller said conditions for brush fires will be ripe again on Tuesday.

Over the two-day period, brush fires consumed some 35 acres with no structural damages, Miller said.

The largest of the fires was in the Amos Jones Road area of Littleton in which 29 acres were burned.

Volunteer fire departments throughout the area assisted the county rangers. “We couldn’t do our jobs without them,” Miller said.

With conditions ripe for brush fires Tuesday, Miller said, “If you plan to burn, check the news in the morning and see what the weather forecast is. If it’s sunny and windy it’s a bad day to burn and when you actually go to burn make sure you know the wind isn’t blowing and that you have a water source nearby — and a shovel and rake to keep your fire where you want it to be.”

Meanwhile, in a statement this morning the forest service said March signals the beginning of spring wildfire season in North Carolina.

Western North Carolina counties dealing with significant storm debris from Hurricane Helene are especially vulnerable to wildfires due to increased fuel loading from downed timber.

“We reduce our wildfire risk by working together,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “When it comes to wildfire response this time of year, the N.C. Forest Service is at the ready, prepositioning resources as needed. We need you to be prepared and ready for wildfire. Understand that you’re not powerless when it comes to wildfire prevention and risk reduction. Everyone has a role to play, starting with making good decisions and planning ahead if you intend to start a fire.”

Escaped yard debris burns, often due to carelessness, continue to be the leading cause of wildfires across the state, accounting for nearly half of all wildfires in North Carolina. In general, human activity is responsible for 99 percent of wildfires, and spring weather tends to draw people outdoors to work in their yards with many choosing to burn as a method to dispose of leaves, limbs and other yard debris.

“Careless behaviors, such as burning on the wrong day, leaving a fire unattended, not staying with a fire until it is fully extinguished, can result in a fire escaping and becoming a dangerous wildfire that quickly threatens lives and property,” said N.C. Forest Service Assistant Commissioner and State Forester Greg Hicks. “Your N.C. Forest Service county ranger is a great resource for recommending best practices and guidance about when, where and how to burn safely outdoors.”

Before starting an outdoor fire, contact your local NCFS county ranger’s office. 

The N.C. Forest Service also offers the following tips:

Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specific hours. Others forbid it entirely.

Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.

Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.

Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.

Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.

Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.

Stay with your fire until it is completely out.

These same tips apply to campfires and grills as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. Drown all embers, not just the red ones. When soaked, stir the coals and soak them again. Make sure everything is wet and that embers are cold to the touch. If you do not have water, mix enough dirt or sand with the embers to extinguish the fire, being careful not to bury the fire. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.