Press Releases
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service has deemed five new counties positive for the emerald ash borer (EAB). Newly impacted counties are Anson, Bertie, Duplin, Martin and Sampson, bringing the number of counties in the state where the tree-killing insect has been detected to 76.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program has announced that 71 communities, 12 campuses and two utilities have been awarded Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education and Tree Line USA designations for 2023.
RALEIGH – March will officially cue the start of spring wildfire season in North Carolina, and the N.C. Forest Service is urging residents to use caution with all outdoor fires, especially yard debris burns.The N.C. Forest Service responded to more than 5,300 wildfires across North Carolina in 2023, with escaped debris burns as the leading cause.
RALEIGH – Roy Anthony Potter, 61, of Kelly, pleaded guilty to eight felony counts of intentionally setting fire to grass, brushlands and woodlands with the intent to damage property of another in Bladen and Columbus counties.
Effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, the N.C. Forest Service has lifted a ban on all open burning outside of the 100-foot area around an occupied dwelling for the following counties in North Carolina: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey. Burn bans were issued for these counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions in the area.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel during the month of November. Beginning Nov. 13, the discount applies to the first $500 of all new orders, up to a $100 discount.
RALEIGH – Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today announced the promotion of Greg Hicks of Oxford to assistant commissioner overseeing operations of the North Carolina Forest Service. Hicks previously served as assistant state forester. He will replace current assistant commissioner Scott Bissette who is retiring. The promotion is effective Nov. 1.
As North Carolina transitions to the fall, the N.C. Forest Service is reminding the public to be careful, ready and responsible when burning outdoors. Typically, wildfires occur more frequently from October through early December. Outdoor fires left unattended can get out of hand quickly, becoming wildfires that threaten lives and property. In 2022, there were nearly 6,400 wildfires that burned more than 24,000 acres in North Carolina, 99% of which were human caused.
The N.C. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program has announced that 73 communities, 14 campuses and four utilities have been awarded Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education and Tree Line USA designations for 2022.
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service will begin accepting orders July 5 for its annual tree seedling sale.