The 'ber months and these cooler temps are just perfect for campfires, right? 🏕️ When it comes to finding wood for your fire, #DidYouKnow that you should ONLY use firewood that originated within 10 miles from where you plan to burn? 📍 This helps prevent the spread of tree-killing pests like the emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle and others that threaten to destroy the forests we love. What to do: 🪵 Buy firewood close to where you'll burn it 🪵 Buy certified heat-treated firewood beforehand if you can't buy locally 🪵 Gather firewood at the burn site (if allowed) SC-specific information: dontmovefirewood.org/map/sou… more: dontmovefirewood.org/how-to-… For lots of helpful tips, follow Don't Move Firewood!

REGISTER NOW! The Trees SC Annual Conference and optional pre-conference tour is coming up soon, and the last day to register under the room block is Sept. 30! Join fellow tree professionals and enthusiasts in the Lowcountry October 28-30 for a journey through gardens, tea and oaks, followed by two days of educational and insightful presentations and networking opportunities. WHERE Tides Folly Beach 1 Center St, Folly Beach, SC *9/30/2026 is the last day to reserve under the room block WHEN Oct. 28: Pre-Conference Tour - A Lowcountry Journey Through Gardens, Tea & Oaks (Optional) Oct. 29-30: 2026 Annual Conference - Looking Back & Leaping Forward LEARN MORE AND REGISTER eventbrite.com/e/2026-trees-…

Congratulations to USC Upstate, which has been recognized for achieving its 18th year of Tree Campus Higher Education recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation this year! #FeatureFriday⁠ ⁠ USC Upstate’s 18 years are the greatest number of Tree Campus awards achieved by any university and college in South Carolina; Clemson University and USC Columbia each have 17 years. SCFC Piedmont Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler presented the award to Director of Building and Landscape Services Bruce Suddeth earlier this year. ⁠ USC Upstate takes its campus green space seriously! Fast facts: -The 12-acre Susan Jacobs Arboretum contains at least 130 tree species and 80 shrub species and 12 gardens. -The six-acre Rotary International Peace Park holds almost 400 trees. -With 200 acres of campus green space management, including 25,000 square feet of landscaped beds, USC Upstate said it could do even more!  ⁠ ⁠ Two years ago, USC Upstate received a food forest grant from the Forestry Commission. At least 300 plants, producing fruit, nuts, berries, vegetables and herbs were established in a green space pocket between University Way and Valley Falls Road behind the Health Services building. ⁠ ⁠ This venture was created to help feed students, faculty, staff and the surrounding Spartanburg community and provide hands-on education in urban horticulture. Congratulations and keep up the great work, USC Upstate!

Check out this T340 fire suppression unit from 1963 with a SEICO plow, also known as the C-150 or Carolina 150, that was designed and built by SC Forestry Commission mechanics in Sumter. #ThrowbackThursday #SCForestry #ForestryHistory⁠ ⁠ Explore more SCFC history: scfc.gov/about-us/history/pi…

Congratulations to Berkeley/Charleston Sector Fire Management Officer (FMO) Jackie Welch for graduating from the SC Criminal Justice Academy! Welch graduated with Class 864 Friday. Before her role as FMO, Welch worked as a wildland firefighter in the Williamsburg Sector. Congratulations, Jackie! Learn more about forest protection: scfc.gov/protection/law-enfo…

It's the first day of fall! 🍁 Just a little while longer until SC shows off some striking autumn colors...⁠ ⁠ But you can go ahead and start planning all those fun fall trips with the help of this foliage prediction map 📍⁠ ⁠ *While no tool can be 100% accurate, this map is meant to help folks better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak fall color. Source: americanforests.org/fall-fol…⁠ ⁠ Another source offering a more detailed prediction map: almanac.com/fall-foliage-map

Today the South Carolina Forestry Commission sent an eight-person task force to assist wildland firefighting efforts in Arkansas, which has been experiencing extreme fire danger and historic levels of wildfire activity since last week. The SCFC contingent, one of several out-of-state detachments called to southern Arkansas to help local crews, includes two dozer units, one Type 6 engine, one UTV and two chase trucks for leadership. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture continues to report high-to-extreme wildfire risk in all 75 of its counties, 70 of which have implemented burning bans. A spate of wildfires swept across southern Arkansas over the past week – the largest a nearly 3,000-acre incident – fueled by persistent heat that has contributed to a rapidly increasing drought and resultant dry fuels.

How many trees are there in South Carolina? Which species are the most abundant? And how do we get the answers to those questions? #ForestryFactFriday⁠ ⁠ The South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program conducts an ongoing forest “census” that is used to describe the extent, type, size and overall health of our forests. The FIA program has been in continuous operation since the 1930s. An initiative of the US Forest Service, the nationwide data collection program is now conducted primarily by state forestry agencies in the South.⁠ ⁠ SC Forestry Commission crews measure 2,700+ permanent forested plots over a five-year period. Each crew is assigned to one of the three agency regions with headquarters at Florence, Columbia and Newberry.⁠ #FIAForestry #FIAFriday ⁠ Our program: scfc.gov/development/forest-…⁠ ⁠ Our state's factsheet: research.fs.usda.gov/product…⁠ ⁠ Learn more: worldatlas.com/forests/how-m…

What’s the SCFC version of 1+1=2? Dozer + unit = transport. Check out these Forestry Commission transports through the decades ⏩ 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s #ThrowbackThursday #ForestryHistory #SCForestry

DID YOU KNOW: A forest-based bioeconomy is emerging in South Carolina and across the U.S. and includes a wide range of energy, chemical and advanced material applications. Developing markets seek to use forest biomass as a sustainable replacement for petroleum-based alternatives while adding value to low-cost feedstock and advancing a circular economy. Our new report evaluates the availability of woody biomass from standing inventory, harvesting residues and mill residues created as a byproduct of forest industry operations. Plus, this review provides estimates of the biomass available in South Carolina by category and an overview of the forest market that drives much of the existing biomass industry. Read more: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/…

Just one week 'til (the official start of) fall, yall! 🍂 This time of year, the days shorten, the nights get longer and cooler... and deciduous trees unveil beautiful new colors!⁠ ⁠ ❓ Why do leaves change color in the fall?⁠ 🍃 Environmental changes let a tree know it's time to stop producing chlorophyll, the pigment that makes leaves green. ⁠ 🍂 Once the chlorophyll is gone, pigments called carotenoids (yellow and orange colors) and anthocyanin (red and purple colors) in the leaf are revealed, giving us a beautiful autumn show.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ❓ What are the signature fall colors for different species? ⁠ Sourwood and black tupelo: crimson⁠ Oaks: red, brown⁠ Hickories: golden bronze⁠ Aspen and yellow-poplar: golden yellow⁠ Dogwood: purple/red⁠ Beech: light tan⁠ ⁠ ❓ Why does all of this happen?⁠ 🍃 Stems, twigs and buds can survive the cold. Leaves on deciduous trees, however, are very delicate and would freeze in winter, so they must be disposed of. ⁠ 🌲 Evergreens survive winter because their needle-like foliage is covered with a heavy wax coating, and the fluid inside their cells resists freezing. ⁠ ⁠ Learn more about your fall favorites and the science behind their striking colors: esf.edu/eis/eis-leaves-color…

Calling landowners and professionals interested in starting or enhancing your longleaf education, no matter your experience level! The Longleaf 101 workshop features classroom instruction, discussions and field tours from The Longleaf Alliance and guest speakers about “all things longleaf."⁠ WHEN September 28-30 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. WHERE Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science 22 Hobcaw Rd. Georgetown, SC TOPICS – Cultural and natural history – Fire and longleaf – Site preparation – Proper planting techniques – Deriving income from longleaf products – Converting to longleaf – Restoring groundcover – Managing for wildlife objectives – Topics of local significance REGISTER longleafalliance.org/event/l… *SAF credits pending *Registration cost is $50-$100 CONTACT Karen Zilliox Brown karen@longleafalliance.org or 803-607-5466

Today we recognize Patriot Day, a time to pause in remembrance of those who senselessly lost their lives on this day 25 years ago. #WeWillNeverForget

Sand Hills State Forest Mechanic Henry Theodore Hunter stands out as one of the Forestry Commission’s most innovative pioneers. In addition to maintaining mechanized equipment on the State Forest, Hunter invented and built specialized experimental equipment. Working from a mountainous scrap pile, he designed and built numerous fireplows, water-handling vehicles, herbicide sprayers, tree planters and hand tools. #ThrowbackThursday He once replaced a $900 “store bought” tree planter with one of his own design built from scrap and costing a total of $1.50. His two-row tree planters are probably the only such ever developed. From old disc blades he built land clearing hoes that wouldn’t wear out in the sandy Chesterfield County soil. He solved the problem of trimming the tall hedges around Sand Hills headquarters by mounting a lawn mower on a platform carried on the shoulders of two men. Carlton W. Truax, writing in the Columbia Record (Apr. 23, 1954), said Mr. Hunter had “plenty of opportunity to demonstrate that the impossible just isn’t.” After 30 years of doing the impossible, Mr. Hunter retired in 1969. #SCForestry #ForestryHistory

REGISTER NOW! The Trees SC Annual Conference and optional pre-conference tour is coming up soon! Head to the Lowcountry October 28-30 for a journey through gardens, tea and oaks, followed by two days of educational and insightful presentations, networking opportunities and a chance to connect with fellow tree professionals and enthusiasts. WHERE Tides Folly Beach 1 Center St, Folly Beach, SC *9/30/2026 is the last day to reserve under the room block WHEN Oct. 28: Pre-Conference Tour - A Lowcountry Journey Through Gardens, Tea & Oaks (Optional) Oct. 29-30: 2026 Annual Conference - Looking Back & Leaping Forward REGISTER eventbrite.com/e/2026-trees-…

REGISTER NOW: The 2026 SC Prescribed Fire Council meeting is coming up! Your opportunity to network and learn alongside other prescribed fire professionals in the field and in the classroom is happening mid-October. WHERE Piedmont Technical College, Newberry County Campus 1922 Wilson Rd. Newberry, SC 29108 WHEN Oct. 14 (field day) 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Oct. 15 (classroom) 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Registration 8:30 AM, presentations start at 9:00 AM) REGISTRATION eventbrite.com/e/south-carol… *Day 1 (field day) is $35 with lunch provided. Exact location will be sent prior to the field day. *Day 2 (classroom) is $85 with lunch provided. You may register for either day or both days. CFEs have been requested.

It ain't much, but it's honest work. You know the drill - think before you burn! Need a refresher? We got you. State law requires that citizens notify the Forestry Commission before burning outdoors. This requirement applies only to unincorporated areas of the state (outside of city/town limits). People burning residential yard debris must 1) limit their fires to vegetative material like leaves, limbs and branches; 2) clear a firebreak around the burning site; 3) have the right equipment available to keep the fire under control; 4) stay with the fire until it is completely safe. Have a safe and happy Labor Day, all! Learn more: scfc.gov/protection/fire-bur…

It's #NationalWildlifeDay! From songbirds to quail, deer and more, we appreciate the value wildlife brings to our SC forests! Show us your best wildlife pics in the comments! 🐻🐿️🦃

DID YOU KNOW: The first firefighting plow to use live hydraulics as a lift mechanism was designed and built by SC Forestry Commission mechanics. Head mechanic Oliver P. Woodward was the principal designer, assisted by Meyer Geddings and Tom Skinner. Dubbed the Carolina 150, the prototype was completed March 1, 1950 at the Forestry Commission’s shop in Sumter. #ThrowbackThursday The Forestry Commission contracted with Southern Iron and Equipment Company in Chamblee, Georgia to build the plows. Company officials immediately recognized the revolutionary design had commercial potential and obtained the manufacturing rights. It was widely marketed as the “SIECO C-150” and similar plows are still used by forest firefighters all over the south. #ForestryHistory #SCForestry