The N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning for 81 counties effective 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3. The statewide ban on open burning went into effect March 28 due to hazardous forest fire conditions, and the ban remains in effect for Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Stokes and Union counties until further notice. Read news release.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, May 3, burn permits are available in the counties no longer under the state’s ban on open burning. Residents in those counties can obtain a burn permit from any authorized permitting agent or online at https://apps.ncagr.gov/burnpermits/. All burn permits granted before the statewide burn ban were canceled when the ban became effective. To legally burn in the counties no longer under the state’s ban, a valid permit must be obtained.
Careless debris burning is the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina, and you are our best defense against wildfire. For wildfire readiness and prevention tips, visit www.preventwildfirenc.org.
See the North Carolina Wildfire Public Viewer for current information on North Carolina’s reported and active wildfires.
Current situation as of May 5, 2026 at 10 a.m.
Daily wildfire occurrence by district for Monday, May 4, 2026
On Monday, May 4, 2026, preliminary reports show that 25 wildfires burned 6.1 acres on private and state-owned land in North Carolina.
Current Wildfire Information
The N.C. Forest Service tracks daily fire activity using a database known as "Signal 14." The data from Signal 14 is a rapid approximation of wildfire occurrence. It's not an exact count. This information does not include uncontained fires or fires that occur on federal property. The wildfire statistics below come from Signal 14 reports.
| Period | # of Fires | # of Acres Burned |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | 25 | 6.1 |
| Month to date | 60 | 37.1 |
| Year to date | 4,280 | 10,054.8 |
| Additional data: Daily Fire Occurrence (PDF) | ||
During in-state incidents of significance, information and updates will be made available here.
Use the North Carolina Wildfire Public Viewer to monitor current information on North Carolina's reported and active wildfires.
The N.C. Forest Service is not currently dispatching employees to assist with suppressing wildfires in other states. A dispatch normally lasts for 14 days, plus 2 days for travel at each end of the assignment. Jobs filled by NCFS personnel include everything from the command staff on a fire to members of hand crews digging fire lines.