Virginia’s annual burning ban for the spring fire season goes into effect Wednesday.
The law lasts from Feb. 15 to April 30 and bans fires before 4 p.m. in or within 300 feet of woodland, brush land or fields containing dry grass or other flammable debris. Residents should be extra cautious every year, said Phillip Manuel, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg.
In late winter/early spring, days get longer and warmer and bare trees enable wind to get closer to the ground, where leaves and dormant grass provide fuel for fires that can easily spiral out of control, Manuel said. Also, humidity is lower and from noon to 4 p.m., winds are gustier.
Though the weather has not been as dry as last year, it’s still drier than normal, Manuel said. According to the U.S Drought Monitor, Halifax County and a small part of southeastern Pittsylvania County have been abnormally dry, as well as Caswell and part of Rockingham counties in North Carolina.
Burning leaves, yard debris or trash is still a prime cause of wildfires across the commonwealth, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Violation of the state’s burning law is a class 3 misdemeanor that can result in a $500 fine. Also, anyone who lets a fire escape can be held liable for the expense of fighting the fire and damage to others’ property, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement