Drought Doesn't Mean Statewide Burn Ban | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 24, 2026 · 1m

Brunswick County wants a statewide burn ban due to drought and recent fires, but State Forester Greg Hicks says drought alone doesn’t trigger a state-wide ban—fire danger is measured differently. While the U.S. Drought Monitor tracks long-term conditions like rainfall and soil moisture, the Forest Service daily assesses real-time fire risk based on weather, plant dryness, and active fires. Hicks notes fire danger across North Carolina remains low to moderate, and no statewide ban is needed yet. Few new wildfires have emerged statewide, supporting his stance. Local burn bans, like Brunswick’s…