South Carolina Wildfire Protection and Forestry Commission Authority

South Carolina Code Title 48, Chapters 23 and 35, vest the South Carolina Forestry Commission with primary responsibility for preventing and suppressing wildfires on more than 13 million acres of forestland statewide. The Commission may issue statewide or local burn bans during periods of high fire danger, and these bans supersede any local permission to burn. Persons setting fires that escape onto forestland are strictly liable for suppression costs. Property owners adjoining forestland may be required to maintain firebreaks. The State Forester may close forestland to public entry during extreme fire conditions.

Setting a fire that spreads to forestland creates strict liability for suppression costs; willful or negligent forest fires are a felony with up to 5 years imprisonment and fines.