Columbus County commissioners vote down change to ‘high hazard’ fire-danger designation after farmers raise concerns

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 to reject a resolution that would have changed the county's open-burning classification from "moderate hazard" to "high hazard," after an extended public and commissioner discussion about how the change would affect farmers and land clearing.

The measure, presented by Operational Section Chief Shane Hardy of the North Carolina Forest Service, would have shifted the county from coverage under North Carolina General Statute 106-94.3 (non-high hazard) to 106-94.2 (high hazard). Hardy told the board that the high-hazard classification would require permits for open burning 24 hours a day and would allow forestry staff to require land-clearing permits and to decline permits when smoke impacts or other statutory conditions were not met.

"The only difference in that regard between a non-high-hazard county and a high-hazard county is…