Local safety officials urge Horry County residents to exercise extreme caution with burn barrels amid dry, windy conditions
Horry County, SC — A common occurrence across Horry County is the use of burn barrels to dispose of discarded materials. While the practice is widespread, local safety officials emphasize that residents must adhere strictly to county regulations regarding what is burned and how containment is managed.
Essentially, the only materials legally allowed to be burned—in a barrel or anywhere else in Horry County—are natural debris that originated directly on the property, such as grass, leaves, twigs, and branches, alongside traditional firewood. Treated wood, construction building materials, household garbage, cardboard, and plastics are strictly prohibited.
When utilizing burn barrels, residents are required to place them well away from combustible structures and vegetation, including vinyl siding, fencing, elevated decks, and hanging tree branches. Officials particularly stress the hazard posed to the ground directly beneath the barrel, which can absorb intense heat and ignite surrounding grass. Operators are advised to remain with the burn barrel at all times and maintain an active water source nearby to keep the fire under control.
Prolonged use of burn barrels frequently leads to structural deterioration of the metal, creating hidden holes that allow extreme heat, escaping embers, and fire to drop directly onto underlying vegetation.
Under current dry and windy meteorological conditions, these escaped flames can rapidly escalate out of control.
Local officials note that safety advisories are issued not because the practice is rare in Horry County, but because burn barrel incidents remain an unacceptably frequent cause of avoidable emergency responses.
Source: Horry County Fire Rescue
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com. All rights reserved
Be the first to comment