Wildfire Report: 1999

In 1999, a total of 1,749 fires burned 12,118 acres which exceeded the number reported for each of the last twelve years. The previous five-year average is 1,320 fires and 6,081 acres. The leading cause of forest fires in Virginia is debris burning.

Traditionally, Virginia experiences forest fire seasons in the spring and fall. The spring fire season begins in mid February and extends through April. The fall fire season usually covers a period of a few weeks in late October to mid November. However, in 1999 the spring fire season extended into the summer months. One of the largest fires of the year occurred on August 7th. The Purgatory Mountain Fire in Botetourt County burned 1,285 acres and cost over $166,000 to contain. A fire on Clinch Mountain in Southwest Virginia burned only 240 acres but cost more than $97,000 to contain due to mountainous terrain and extreme drought conditions.

During the 1999 fire seasons, Virginia was experiencing a severe drought. The flammable conditions of the forest in the western part of the state were extreme. Drought conditions continued in the western part of the state despite hurricanes and flooding in the eastern part of the state. Forest fires occurring under these conditions burned erratically and were difficult to control and contain. Some fire had to be patrolled for weeks. The fall fire season continued until November 25 when rain finally reached western Virginia

Despite fires in Virginia the Department was able to send limited resources to Texas and Kentucky. Virginia activated the Mid Atlantic Fire Fighting Compact in November.

The 1999 fire seasons exceed the previous five year average and was the signally the worst season since 1987.

Last modified: Monday, 19-Oct-2009 14:36:50 EDT