AIKEN, SC (WRDW/WAGT) – One week after the Belvedere Fire Department called for a fire ban, the Aiken County Council will hold an emergency fire ban meeting Monday night.

Over the weekend, the fire service announced a meeting to discuss the application would be held on Monday at 5pm, followed by a full meeting at 5.15am.

A few weeks after Hurricane Helene, we have yet to see any substantial amount of rain.

With piles of debris over the CSRA, they likely become fire starters. Aiken County has not implemented a burn ban since Nov. 4, and firefighters have struggled to keep up with the number of fire calls.

“We need some enforcement when people are doing this illegally, but to date, we have yet to assist with any of these calls, other than requesting an emergency burn ban through the county council,” said Chad Hyler, the head of the department. Belvedere Fire Department.

Hyler adds that they have no way of knowing if someone has a legal no-burn permit to burn debris in their home, which adds to the number of uncontrolled fires that can lead to even more devastation.

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