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Fire Officials Ask Residents To Postpone Outside Burning Until Significant Rainfall

N.C. Forest Service and the Watauga County Fire Marshal’s Office recommend that due to the dry weather and strong winds open burning should be postponed until after 4 p.m. today or until Watauga County gets some significant rainfall.

Currently, there is a wild land urban fire in the Ridgecrest area of Buncombe County that started yesterday afternoon and has burned 500-plus acres. It has damaged 5 homes and destroyed one. It is not contained according to news reports.

If you do burn officials say to get a permit and have a water hose or other firefighting equipment available and to stay with the fire until completely out. If you have questions contact your local fire department. Reach the N.C. Forest Service at 265-5375 or Watauga County Fire Marshals Office at 264-4235.