As Wildfires Continue, Outdoor Burning Ban Considered

The past weekend was an active one for wildfires. A total of 341 fires burned 7,086 acres. The North Carolina Department of Forest Resources says there have been 1,121 fires wildfires since February 12th that have burned a total of 7,648 acres. One burned about 1,747 acres near Chimney Rock State Park in Western North Carolina. Forest Resources spokesman Brian Haines says the worst fire is in Warren County, which is near the Virginia state line. Haines says, "The Parktown Road fire, which is still ongoing, though it is about 95 percent contained at this time, was about 2,015 acres." Haines says the Forest Resources agency is considering an outdoor burning ban, but nothing has been decided. Either way, Haines warns that people should not burn outdoors until we get a heavy rain, since the entire state is warm, dry, and windy.