Dec. 2. The statewide outdoor ban on fires doesn’t apply to fires within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, which would includet outdoor fireplaces and firepits. They’re A-OK as long as you employ safety precautions like a protective screen or an extinguishing method.

Open burning is not cool. That includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash and lumber is illegal. Gas grills and barbecue are not affected by the ban, but campfires are.

The local Fire Marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, but Mecklenburg County has not done so at this time.