How do I find out if a burn ban is in effect in my WNC county right now?

Wettest town, driest ridges

Brevard is one of the rainiest places we serve — 80-plus inches a year — but that same country swings to tinder-dry in a fall drought, and that's when Transylvania County and the state post open-burning bans. The ban covers wood fires out in the open: brush, debris, an uncontained fire pit. It doesn't reach a contained gas feature or the fireplace inside your downtown home.

With the national forest right next door, expect the county to err on the strict side during dry spells, and check the listing before you burn.

Propane country, and the ban

Out here you're in propane territory — the downtown blocks and the cabins alike run on LP rather than a gas main. That doesn't change what a burn ban restricts, but it does mean a propane fire pit or patio burner, once we've set the regulator, run the line, and pressure-tested it, stays usable while an open brush fire is off-limits.

We coordinate the tank with your propane supplier and handle everything that makes fire. We're 40 minutes southwest of our Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.

Moisture is the other enemy

All that rain is hard on hearths — Brevard's crawl spaces and chimney chases are prone to moisture damage, cracked crowns, and rusted dampers. If a wood fireplace is your open-flame backup for when bans lift, have the flue and cap checked before heating season so it's ready the day you actually need it.