Richland County residents are reminded that the S.C. Forestry Commission has a statewide burning ban in effect until further notice.

The ban prohibits outdoor burning, including yard debris burning and burning for forestry, wildlife or agricultural purposes. Campfires and open-fire cooking are not included in the statewide ban, though Richland County emergency officials recommend no outdoor burning of any kind until the ban is lifted.

The S.C. Forestry Commission declared the ban to help lessen the strain on local fire departments’ abilities to respond to fire emergencies while many of their personnel remain dispatched to coastal regions in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

The statewide burning ban will stay in effect until an official announcement is made by the S.C. Forestry Commission and S.C. Emergency Management Division.

Richland County residents can receive a daily burn ban status by calling the County’s Open Burn Notification line at 803-576-3404.

For statewide burning ban information, visit www.state.sc.us/forest.