The burn ban was put in place on March 1st prohibiting all outdoor burning including yard debris, prescribed burning and campfires. According to the state Fire Marshall there are more than 175 wildfires with ongoing operations.

Officials said the ban will stay in effect until an official announcement from the Forestry Commission. Governor Henry McMaster posted a warning about violations of the burn ban:

In Clarendon County alone, over 600 acres have burned in the past 48 hours, stretching emergency resources to the limit.