However, bans are still in effect for some jurisdictions, including the national forests, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Some counties still maintain a burning prohibition that prevents burning from taking place within 100 feet of a building. 

The rains have dampened fuels but have not vanquished the drought. As of Thursday, Dec. 1, six counties were still classified as experiencing exceptional drought, the highest classification possible — Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay and Cherokee counties. Drought maps are updated weekly on Thursdays. 

The N.C. Forest Service ban was first issued for the 25 westernmost counties on Nov. 7, with an additional 22 counties included Nov. 21 as drought conditions worsened and wildfires burned more than 73,000 acres in Western North Carolina.