Polk County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal

05/03/2026

Effective May 3rd at 8 AM, the burn ban for Polk County will be lifted. This includes the ban enacted by the Fire Marshal’s Office for burning within 100 foot of a structure. Residents should continue to use caution when burning due to ongoing drought conditions.

04/15/2026

Polk County Emergency Management and Columbus Fire Department conducted a "Hands Only CPR & Choking Training" to a group of Polk County homeschooled students with the Polk County Enrichment Classes at the Polk County Library.

Knowing these skills is extremely important for our community. If you are interested in learning these life-saving skills, stay tuned as Polk County EMS will be holding community trainings in May.

04/14/2026

04/07/2026

Polk County remains in a Burn Ban due to poor weather conditions.
Please refrain from open burning, bonfire/firepits and recreational burning.

All previously issued burn permits have been cancelled during this period.

This Burn Ban will stay in effect until conditions improve. To check the status of the Polk County Burn Ban visit www.PolkNC.gov/EM

Polk County Fire Marshal - 828-894-6342
Polk County Non-Emergency Line - 828-894-0188
In case of fire, please call 911

04/01/2026

Safe Kids Rutherford/Polk donated approximately 70 helmets to 3rd graders at Polk Central. They discussed bicycle safety and the importance of always wearing a helmet when riding.

Safe Kids was assisted by Mill Spring Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department and Polk County Emergency Management.

Remember- use your head, wear a helmet!

03/30/2026

On Saturday, March 28, Polk County Emergency Management and local fire departments joined forces with the American Red Cross for a "Sound the Alarm" event.
Over 63 alarms were installed in 18 homes, thanks for the incredible efforts of our Red Cross Volunteers and dedicated firefighters.

If you need free smoke alarms for your home, please contact Polk County Emergency Management at 828-894-6342 or email [email protected]

03/28/2026

🔥Burn Ban in Polk County🔥

March 28, 2026
MEMORANDUM
To: All North Carolina Forest Service Districts
From: Greg Hicks – Assistant Commissioner / State Forester

RE: Cancellation of Burning Permits and Implementation of a Burning Ban for all 100 counties.

Confirming authorization due to hazardous forest fire conditions, I am using authority under the law (NC G.S. 106-944 & 106-946) to cancel all burning permits and prohibit all open burning for all 100 counties. This ban on open burning is effective at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, and shall remain in effect until further notice.

Distribute widely to the affected areas. The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Fires within that 100 feet must be confined within an enclosure from which burning material may not escape or within a protected area upon which a watch is being maintained and which is provided with adequate fire protection equipment. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

We will continually monitor the state to determine when conditions have improved, and the burn ban can be lifted.
By Direction Of:
Steve Troxler, Commissioner
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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March 28, 2026
Polk County Office of Emergency Management/Fire Marshal

Effective as of March 28, 2026, the Polk County Fire Marshal's Office, in accordance with the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, section 307.1 has issued a ban on all open burning within 100 feet of a structure. The North Carolina Forest Service has also issue a State Wide Ban on burning as of 6:00pm today.

This ban is in effect due to extremely dangerous fire conditions and will remain in effect until conditions drastically improve.

03/27/2026

Red Flag Warning from 3/28/2026 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM EDT for Polk County, NC.

03/27/2026

USDA - Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants in North Carolina

For more information please visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-programs/single-family-housing-rural-disaster-home-repair-grants-nc

03/24/2026

Tuesday March 24, 2026
Elevated Fire Danger in Polk County, NC. Please refrain from burning until conditions improve.

For more information on burning or to obtain a burn permit visit: https://apps.ncagr.gov/burnpermits

NCFS Tips for safe burning:
Tips for Safe Debris Burning

✔Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
✔Check to see if weather changes are expected. Outdoor burning should be postponed if shifts in wind direction, higher winds or wind gusts are forecast.
✔Before doing any burning, establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around any burn barrels and even wider around brush piles and other piled debris to be burned. The larger the debris pile, the wider the control line needed to ensure that burning materials won’t be blown or roll off the pile into vegetation outside the line.
✔Stay with all outdoor fires until they are completely out.
✔Keep water and hand tools ready in case your fire should attempt to spread.
✔Stay abreast of wildfire danger levels and heed warnings