April 15, 2026
Restrictions on all four federally-managed national forests follow the statewide ban issued on all open burning.
Image courtesy: National Forests in North Carolina
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has restricted all open burning and campfires outside of developed recreation sites on North Carolina’s four national forests starting Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in response to the elevated fire danger occurring across the state.
The restriction includes building, maintaining or using an open fire, campfire or stove fire on the Pisgah, Nantahala, Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests.
Visitors are still permitted to use commercially available fuel stoves such as portable propane camp stoves or covered charcoal grills. Forest Service-provided grills, metal fire rings and fire pits are also available for public use at developed recreation sites and campgrounds while the restriction is in effect.
Officials said these restrictions will remain in place until there is a change in fire danger to reduce the risk of human-caused fires during unusually high fire danger and/or burning conditions.
The restriction on the four federally managed national forests follows the statewide ban issued on all open burning.
For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nfsnc).