Wildfires Don"t Know What Date or Time It Is

While Virginia's traditional Spring Wildfire Season and the 4PM Law does not go into effect till next Sunday the 15th this past weekend was a busy one.
 Below is the news release followed by several headlines and pictures from the weekend.

News Release

For Immediate Release                                                                                               VDOF 15004

Contact: John Campbell 434.220.9070 or 434.989.0665                                           Feb. 9, 2015

Wildfire season in Virginia begins Sunday, February 15^th.

 

The 75-day spring wildfire season in the Commonwealth begins Sunday when the 4 p.m. Burn Law (which allows burning only between 4 p.m. and midnight) goes into effect.  Citizens are reminded to be extra careful with any open-air fire from now through April 30^th. 

“Wildfires in the Commonwealth are very weather dependent,” said State Forester Bettina Ring.  “Low humidity, dry fuels – such as leaves, grass and tree limbs – and gusty winds are prevalent this time of year.  Even a relatively small fire can quickly get out of control and spread fast.”

Ring said that more than 40 percent of the wildfires that occur in Virginia each year are caused by people burning trash or debris.  “It’s the number one cause year in and year out,” she said.  “And these fires threaten the lives of thousands of Virginians.  Last year alone, more than 2,000 homes and other structures were protected by the Virginia Department of Forestry’s wildland firefighters.”

According to VDOF records, more than 95 percent of wildfires in the Commonwealth each year are caused by humans and, thus, are preventable.  The State Forester wants Virginians to know that there are things they can do to reduce the risk of wildfires.

“The best thing people can do is to obey the law by not burning trash or debris before 4 p.m. each day during spring fire season,” Ring said.  “Virginia’s 4 p.m. law has been in place since 1940 and is one of the best tools we have for reducing the threat of wildfires.  Because humidity levels typically increase and wind speeds usually decrease after 4 p.m., the likelihood of a fire escaping someone’s control is reduced.”

But, just because you are allowed to burn after 4 p.m., it doesn’t mean that you should burn on certain days.  John Miller, VDOF’s director of resource protection, said, “If wind speed is in excess of 20 miles per hour and humidity levels are below 30 percent, please don’t light a fire.  The chances are high that the fire will escape – and that’s a life safety issue for you, your family and your neighbors.”

 

If conditions are suitable the day you wish to burn, Miller recommends that you: 1. burn in small piles rather than one big pile; 2. clear the area around the pile down to bare dirt before igniting your fire; 3. don’t add any flammable material to the fire after midnight; 4. keep a fully charged hose and a shovel on hand to extinguish any spot fires that ignite away from the burn pile, and 5. dial 9-1-1 as soon as a fire escapes your control.

 Starting a fire before 4 p.m. during spring wildfire season is not only dangerous, it’s a Class 3 misdemeanor crime – and one that can be very costly.  In addition to a fine of not more than $500, the person responsible for the fire’s escape is financially liable for the cost of suppressing the fire and for damage caused to another’s property.

 “The cost of battling a wildfire that escapes someone’s control can easily reach thousands of dollars,” Miller said.  “And if your fire burns down the neighbor’s home or barn, you could be liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars for the property damage.  The men and women who put their lives in danger fighting these wildfires do so in the most safe and cost-effective way possible, but the costs can be very high, especially if the fire becomes very large.”

 To learn more about the spring wildfire season, the 4 p.m. Burn Law and alternatives to debris burning, go to www.dof.virginia.gov .

For more than 100 years, the Virginia Department of Forestry has protected and developed healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians.  Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide citizen service and public safety protection across the Commonwealth.  VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

 With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 103,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $17 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.

 -end-

 

 

Midlothian brush fire came close to burning down homes

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) -

A dangerous brush fire on Sunday came within inches of homes and power lines in Midlothian.

The fire in the Sachem's Head neighborhood was one of four brush fires reported in the area on Sunday. Earlier Sunday afternoon, a brush fire that came close to an exposed gas meter forced the evacuation of a Waffle House restaurant on Hull Street Road. 

Sachem's Head residents said they got out their garden hoses and water buckets to put out hotspots. All the fires are under control, but Virginia Forestry officials said the fire in Midlothian had the greatest potential in years to burn down homes in the area.

Copyright 2015 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.

                                                       

 

 photos by R. Reuse 

 

 

CHESTERFIELD, Va.– A Waffle House in Chesterfield County was evacuated when a brush fire got too close to the restaurant Sunday afternoon.

Crews responded to the fire, which was near the restaurant in the 7300 block of Hull Street Road.

 

Brush fire on Birdneck Rd. scorches 10 acres

 

  

According to District Chief Mike Barakey with the Virginia Beach Fire Department, crews responded to the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center in the 900 block of Birdneck Road around 1 p.m. people began reporting smelling smoke in the area.