Reward Offered For Arson Fire in Dickenson County;
Fire Threat Remains Elevated in SW Virginia

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or people responsible for setting a woods fire that burned 250 acres March 22, 2009 in Dickenson County.

Four homes and four other structures were threatened in the fire that burned on Smith Ridge Road, just off Carter Stanley Highway.

Firefighters from the VDOF and local volunteer fire departments responded to the blaze that was reported at 5:30 p.m. March 22nd.  Once the fire was suppressed, VDOF investigators determined the cause was arson.  The Agency is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information that will lead to the conviction of the responsible party.

Anyone with information about this fire is asked to call the VDOF Office in Clintwood at 276.926.6029.

Other areas of SW Virginia have experienced several large fires caused by people burning debris. Two fires in Buchanan County each burned more than 325 acres and a debris burn fire in Lee County charred 180 acres. Each of these three fires were violations of the state’s 4 p.m. Burn Law, which prohibits open air fires in or within 300 feet of any woods, dry grass or brush before 4 p.m. each day. The law is in effect from Feb. 15 through April 30 each year.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry remind people in SW Virginia that the threat of wildland fire remains elevated and that the 4 p.m. Burn Law is still in effect.

Steve Counts, VDOF fire resource officer in Abingdon, said, “We urge people to be careful with all open fires this time of year, and anyone violating the 4 p.m. Burn Law will be prosecuted.”

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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

With nearly 16 million acres of forest land and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.