FirewiseVirginia

Wildland Fire - Prevention and Education

A prevention and education team assigned to southwestern Virginia assists citizens with their efforts to reduce the number of human caused fires. The team is a joint effort of the Virginia Department of Forestry and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

This report details the activities and accomplishments of the Southwest Virginia Interagency Fire Prevention and Education Team.

Virginia's natural resources put the wealth into our Commonwealth. The past, present, and future quality of life and economic prosperity for our citizens is linked to the State's forest resources. The Virginia Department of Forestry is responsible for wildfire protection on private and state forest land. While fire can play a beneficial role in the forest ecosystem, it can also be a destructive force that endangers these natural resources, our property, and even our lives. There is a reason Smokey Bear changed his slogan to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" - the destruction of land by fire has expanded beyond just the forest. “Wildfire” refers to ANY uncontrolled, outdoor fire, anywhere.

The loss of our natural resources affects all of us. Trees provide rubber for tires, lumber, and paper. Quinine from trees is the cure for yellow fever, and anti-cancer drugs like Taxol, derived from the bark of a yew tree. One large tree can provide a day's worth of oxygen for four people.

Ninety percent of all wildfires are the result of human negligance. The leading causes of human-related wildfires are:

• Debris burning
• Woods Arson
• Careless discarding of smoking materials
• Equipment operation
• Campfires

Public Service Announcements

• Defensible Space Text (English; Word format)
• Defensible Space PSA 1 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 2 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 3 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 4 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 5 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 6 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 7 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 8 (English; MP3 format)
• Defensible Space PSA 9 (English; MP3 format)

Spring Fire Season begins in late February and goes through April.

Fall Fire Season begins in late October and continues through November. Read our Halloween PSA.

With education and responsible practices, individuals can make a difference all year long in the fight against unwanted wildfire, helping to preserve and protect our natural resources.

Putting out a wildfire is easy scientifically, remove one part of the "fire triangle" and the fire goes out. But this is a very dangerous and hard job to do. It is much easier to prevent the wildfire from starting in the first place.

Shenandoah Valley Wildfire Prevention And Education Team

• FireWatch newsletter (English; PDF format).

Last modified: Wednesday, 30-Jan-2013 13:07:16 EST