The Orange County Fire Marshal has issued a countywide open-burning ban.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued an open-burning ban for all 100 counties in the state last week. The state ban prohibits all open burning 100 feet or more from an occupied dwelling. Orange County expanded the ban to all open burning, regardless of the distance from a structure.

Open burning includes leaves, branches and other plant material. It is illegal to burn trash, lumber, tires, plastics or other non-vegetative materials.

The ban was prompted by the recent rash of wildfires across the state and the diminished water supply due to the drought.

For more information, contact the Orange County Fire Marshal at 968-2050 or the Orange County Forest Ranger at 732-8152.