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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 3, 2020
CONTACTS: Doug Wood – (803) 968-1576 / Justin Holt – (803) 360-2231

Statewide Red Flag Fire Alert effective immediately
Outdoor burning discouraged because of weather conditions, elevated fire risk

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately.

Weather forecasts for most of the state this weekend include stronger-than-normal wind gusts and low relative humidity, all of which combine with dry fuels on the ground to create the potential for outdoor fires escaping easily and spreading rapidly.

“These conditions present favorable conditions for wildfire ignitions, particularly the low relative humidity values, which will remain low over the weekend,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “With the otherwise nice weather this weekend, we just want people who may be working in their yards or enjoying the outdoors to be aware of the elevated potential for fire danger.”

The purpose of the alert is twofold: in addition to discouraging people from doing any outdoor burning, it also helps to reduce the strain on local fire departments and other first responders who need to remain available for COVID-19 response. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire response teams will continuously monitor the situation throughout the weekend.

A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission strongly encourages citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. However, a Red Flag Fire Alert does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas.

Also available for comment:
Darryl Jones
SCFC Fire/Protection Chief
(803) 667-1039

Due to staffing issues and excessive amounts of curbside yard debris, crews will be unable to collect any man-made materials or bulk items at this time. They will resume as soon as possible, but a specific date is as yet unknown. Please refrain from placing anything other than yard debris and your regular roll-cart out until further notice.
Thank you.

While we are currently operating on a normal schedule within the Solid Waste Services department, we would like to encourage residents to help keep curbside pickup of yard debris and man-made materials at a minimum, as crews may need to rotate around to fill essential needs. We are closely monitoring government recommendations and will announce if/when further changes are necessary.

As a reminder, the JIPSD does not handle recycling. This is handled by Charleston County, and they will not collect excess materials outside the blue roll cart. Their convenience center at 1716 Signal Point Road is open 24/7 for routine recyclables (such as cardboard) and from 10am-6pm Tues-Sat for hazardous recyclables (electronics, tires, paint, etc.); however, please call them at (843)720-7111 before bringing anything other than routine items as their manned hours may vary.

Thank you for your attention and patience as we all work together to #flattenthecurve

For the safety of our employees and customers, our offices will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 23rd until further notice. Please do not leave cash payments in our payment drop box. We encourage customers to call Customer Service at 843.795.9060 or visit our website at www.jipsd.org to conduct business in lieu of coming into the office. Please note that we have paused disconnections at this time; however, customer bills will not be pardoned or erased. We encourage customers to continue making payments to the best of their ability.

Currently, Solid Waste services will continue to operate on a normal schedule. All JIPSD fire station locations will continue to be closed to the public. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. For wastewater emergencies, call 843.795.2345. The JIPSD is committed to preventing the spread of COVID-19 to ensure the safety of our employees and customers.

The JIPSD expects to maintain normal operations and we have suspended all service disconnections at this time. Citizens are encouraged to make payments on our website or by phone by dialing (855) 731-9910.  If any additional questions can be answered regarding your bill, please call Customer Service at 843.795.9060. The Fire Department has cancelled all public events and the stations will be closed to the public for tours.

For updates and other important information, you can follow us here on our website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and advise citizens to take precautions to limit the potential spread of the virus. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional information about COVID-19. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we navigate through the complexities of this pandemic.