Raleigh, N.C. — The ban on open burning in North Carolina ending at noon Saturday.

Recent rains have made it safe for carefully-tended open fires to be used to to reduce the amount of dry forest debris, according to Bill Ross, secretary of environment and natural resources. The Division of Forest Resources will continue to monitor conditions to see if and when the burn ban needs to be reinstated.

Open burning is only recommended for use in controlled conditions as a way to limit accumulation of dry debris that could contribute to future wildfires. A permit is required for any open fire.

State officials also recommend these precautions:

• Do not burn trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other non-vegetative materials. They can produce toxic air pollutants.
• Follow local laws on burning. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours; others forbid it entirely.
• Check the weather. Never burn in Code Orange or Code Red conditions. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
• Keep fire tools available. You will need a garden hose, a bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on a fire.
• Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed burning.
• Always stay with the fire until it has been extinguished.