4 p.m. burn law now in effect
4 p.m. burn law now in effect
19 February 2009
published by www.orangenews.com
USA — The commonwealths 4 p.m. burning law went into effect Feb. 15 – the start of spring fire season in Virginia. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day (Feb. 15 – April 30) if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials.
A violation of this law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition to the criminal violation, those who allow a fire to escape are liable for the cost of suppressing the fire as well as any damage caused to others property.
Because people are the cause of more than 94 percent of wildland fires in the commonwealth, the 4 p.m. burning law may be one of the most effective tools we have in the prevention of wildfires, said John Miller, director of resource protection at the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF). Each late winter and early spring, downed trees, branches and leaves become forest fuels that increase the danger of a forest fire. By adhering to the law and not burning before 4 p.m., people are less likely to start a fire that threatens them, their property and the forests of Virginia.
In 2008, there were 1,322 wildfires that burned 25,704 acres of forest land in the commonwealth. This was a 12.4 percent decrease in the number of wildland fires compared to the number (1,509) of fires in 2007. While the number of fires was down, the amount of acreage burned increased 130 percent when compared to 11,200 acres that burned in 2007.
Fred Turck, VDOF forest protection coordinator said, The leading cause of forest fires in Virginia is carelessness. An unattended fire, a discarded cigarette or a single match can ignite the dry fuels that are so prevalent in the early spring. Add a few days of dry, windy conditions and an escaped wildfire can quickly turn into a raging blaze.
Of the 1,322 wildfires last year, 28.6 percent were caused by people burning debris or yard waste; 14.6 percent were arson; 13.4 percent were equipment use.
People living in most rural areas of Virginia are especially at risk, said Turck.
