MARION, N.C. (NCN News) – Ashes from a cigar are to blame for a wildfire burning in McDowell County Tuesday (March 31).
The North Carolina Forest Service reports that the cause of the Jumping Branch fire currently burning in McDowell County was determined to be the result of improperly discarded smoking material.
Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, of Marion, NC, faces misdemeanor charges. The Jumping Branch fire is currently 185 acres in size and 20% contained.
Firefighters are dealing with multiple blazes elsewhere, including a 600-acre fire in Wilkes County and a 350-acre fire in Mitchell County.
This comes amid a burning ban that is in effect until further notice.
Since Friday, (March 20), N.C. Forest Service rangers have responded to 626 wildfires across the state. Not including today, at least 114 of those fires have started since the statewide ban on open burning became effective at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 28.
Following enactment of the ban, the N.C. Forest Service canceled nearly 18,000 digital burn permits that were issued online during the 30-day period before the ban became effective. This total does not include the burning permits that were issued in person by either the N.C. Forest Service or local burn permitting agents. Congruent with general statute, the N.C. Forest Service cancels all burn permits and suspends the issuance of new burn permits during a state-issued burn ban.
“While burn bans reduce the number of wildfires, burn bans do not prevent them from happening,” added Troxler. “Careless debris burning continues to be the leading cause of wildfire in this state, and it is imperative that the public acknowledge responsibility through action by adhering to the burn ban.”
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning statewide, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.