The statewide ban on open burning remains in effect until further notice despite weekend rain in some areas. Persistent dry weather and increasing rainfall deficits from the last several months have left most of the state needing 10 inches of rain or more. Read news release.
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.
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 April 27, 2026 at 10 a.m.
Daily wildfire occurrence by district for Sunday, April 26, 2026
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, preliminary reports show that 11 wildfires burned 14.8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2026 | 11 | 14.8 |
| Month to date | 1,030 | 2,214.7 |
| Year to date | 4,181 | 10,014.4 |
| 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.