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Board urges outreach as open burning and air-curtain incinerators expand after storm
Summary
Buncombe County air-quality officials said they have approved a small number of air curtain incinerator sites for storm debris and are encouraging their use while emphasizing the 500-foot setback rule; the board discussed enforcement limits and stepped-up outreach.
Buncombe County air-quality staff told the advisory board they have approved five air curtain incinerator locations for storm debris cleanup and granted permission for two open-burn sites, with one unit operating at the Buncombe County landfill under a limited permit.
"We have 5 that we have approved for use right now," Ashley said, adding that the county had given permission to two sites so far to open burn storm debris and that the operations must be at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling. The director also said the agency is encouraging the use of air curtain incinerators because "they do emit less smoke and they're more efficient."
Board members pressed staff about enforcement for unpermitted or "wildcat" burning. Ashley said the agency is primarily reactive: when illegal burns are reported staff check whether the required 500-foot setback is being met and verify that only legal materials are being burned. "That's really the only tool that we have," she said. The board discussed more community education through templates, outreach materials, and coordination with fire departments and the state Division of Air Quality.
The director cited an Army Corps estimate of roughly "10,000,000 cubic yards of storm debris," and noted local pickup so far of about 700,000 cubic yards—approximately 7% of that estimate—underscoring the scale of ongoing debris-management needs. The board asked staff to continue outreach and to provide updates on complaints and permit activity at future meetings.
