Small Wildland Fires = Big Losses

It's not everyday that relatively small wildland fires cause big losses, but with the weather conditions Virginia has experienced over the past several days officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) say that two homes were consumed Tuesday by such blazes.

"The windy, dry and cool conditions of the past few days have contributed to a rash of wildland fires that began small but quickly spread," said Fred Turck, VDOF fire prevention specialist. "Yesterday, two structures were lost in relatively small-acre wildland fires. In large-acre fires, you might expect to see a couple of homes threatened by a spreading wildland fire, but to lose two homes in one day is a bit unusual."

The National Weather Service issued a fire danger warning Friday (Feb. 24). The low levels of humidity, the high winds and the dry fuels on the ground combined to make the conditions ripe for wildland fires. Since Friday, more than 75 wildland fires have broken out across the state. These fires have burned two homes and 358 acres of forest land. Most of the causes of the fires are people burning trash or yard debris.

"Even though the 4 p.m. burn law is in place, many people are being careless with their fires," said Turck. "Just because you can burn after 4 p.m. doesn't mean you should burn. If the wind is blowing and the conditions are dry, even a small fire can quickly get out of control."

Turck advises anyone planning to start a fire to check the weather conditions and clear an area around the pile before lighting a fire.

"The dry, windy conditions we've seen this week are exactly why the 4 p.m. law was enacted," said Turck. "Under these conditions, no one should assume that it's ok to burn. Every fire that escapes threatens your life, your home, your property as well as the lives and property of your neighbors."

VDOF officials remind everyone that they are financially responsible for the costs of fighting wildfires in addition to any fines or penalties associated with their negligence in allowing fires to escape.

Turck said, "Check the weather and think before you burn."

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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, there are Forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 248,000 Virginians employed in the forest products industry, Virginia forests provide more than $30 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.