Asheville Tourists cancel April 24 fireworks amid statewide burn ban

The Asheville Tourists have canceled the fireworks planned for their April 24 home game against the Greenville Drive, a small-looking change that reflects a much bigger public-safety emergency across Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. The state burn ban now blocks fireworks, campfires, debris burning, fire pits and burn barrels, and officials have kept restrictions tight as dry conditions continue to fuel wildfire risk.

North Carolina’s open-burning prohibition took effect at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, and remains in force until further notice. It applies in all 100 counties. Buncombe County has its own local open-burning ban in effect as well, and county officials said on April 6 that the state and local restrictions were staying in place because the region did not get the rainfall that had been forecast and fire danger was expected to worsen.

The scale of the problem has widened beyond a single canceled promotion night at the ballpark. On Monday, April 20, the N.C. Forest Service reported 29 wildfires burning 66.7 acres statewide. Earlier reports said more than 500 wildfires had scorched more than 2,200 acres across North Carolina in just a few weeks. In the mountains around Asheville, the U.S. Forest Service also restricted open burning and campfires starting April 15 on North Carolina’s four national forests, including Pisgah National Forest and Nantahala National Forest.

State officials have warned that violations can bring penalties, including fines, as enforcement ramps up. For families planning backyard gatherings, for campers and hikers headed toward the national forests, and for venues trying to keep spring events on schedule, the practical message is the same: any activity involving open flame needs to wait. The Tourists said they hope to bring fireworks back for May games, but for now the dry weather and the burn ban are setting the rules across Buncombe County and much of Western North Carolina.