Odell Fire and Rescue

Thanks to the long-awaited recent downpours, Cabarrus County Fire Marshal Jacob Thompson announced that the burn ban for unincorporated Cabarrus County will be LIFTED at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 8.

The ban had been in place locally and statewide for over a month due to dry, hazardous conditions. Beginning tomorrow, residents can apply for a burn permit here: https://apps.ncagr.gov/burnpermits/

Keep in mind to still use caution when open burning:

✅Maintain a safe distance from structures
✅Have an extinguishing method available
✅Tend to the fire at all times
✅Only sticks, limbs, leaves and other natural yard debris should be burned
✅All other North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality regulations should be followed. Learn more here: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/air-quality-compliance/open-burning

Review Cabarrus County ordinances and other information at https://www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Fire-Services or contact the Cabarrus County Fire Services office directly at 704-920-2143.

We are now under a burn ban until further notice ‼️ see post below for more info regarding the ban.

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions