1. Escaped debris fires

2. Arson

3. Machine use

How may wildfires burn in Virginia each year?

In 2002, the Department of Forestry suppressed 1690 wildfires that burned 12,692 acres. These wildfires caused over 4.5 million dollars of timber damage and an additional 1.4 million dollars in personal property (homes, barns, out buildings, vehicles etc) damage.

When is Virginia’s Fire season?

Because of the variations in weather, Wildland fires can occur anytime during the year. However, Virginia typically has a spring and a fall fire season. The spring fire season, prompted by warmer weather and drying conditions begins about February 15th and ends April 30th, when the forest has usually “greened-up” enough to prevent the rapid spread of forest fires. Fall fire season begins around October 15th when the leaves begin to fall and usually ends December 1st due to shorter, cooler, wetter days.

How do I report a wildfire – What should I do if I come across a wildfire?

Call 911, do not attempt to fight the wildfire unless you are properly trained and equipped to do so. Leave the firefighting to the experts.

What are the laws concerning wildfire in Virginia?

There are several laws, most notable is the 4PM Law. From February 15th through April 30th, it is unlawful for anyone to have an open-air fire within 300 feet of a forest or grassland.

How do I become a firefighter?

People interested in a job as a Wildland firefighter should contact the various Natural Resource Agencies in Virginia for additional information. The Virginia Department of Forestry, the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, or the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A good place to begin is by joining your local volunteer fire department.

Why is Virginia’s fire record one of the best in the south?

A long history of wildfire prevention and law enforcement have given Virginia such a good
record. The Virginia Department of Forestry organized in 1914 was established primarily for the protection of our natural resources from wildfires.

How does the Department of Forestry fight wildfires?

The Department of Forestry maintains a network of fire fighting personnel and equipment ready to respond to wildfires across Virginia. In mountainous western Virginia, crews fight fire using hand tools, such as fire rakes, shovels, and the Pulaski (a combination of an axe and mattock). In Central and Eastern Virginia, bulldozers can often construct firebreaks, plowed lines two to ten feet wide down to mineral soil to prevent the fire from spreading. Where wildfires are accessible by roads or fields, water is sprayed on fires from engines. On larger, more difficult to control wildfires, helicopters equipped with buckets are used to drop water directly on the fire. Air tankers that use retardants to slow the spread of the fire are also used.

What is fire’s natural role in Virginia’s ecosystems?

More than 100 years of excluding fire, combined with past land-use practices, have altered Virginia’s landscape. This has resulted in changes such as a heavy buildup of dead vegetation, dense stands of trees, a shift to species that are not adapted to fire, and occasionally, even an increase in non-native fire-prone plants. Because of these conditions, today’s fires tend to be larger, burn hotter, and spread farther and faster, making them more severe, more dangerous, and more costly in human, economic, and ecological terms.

What is a “prescribed” fire?

By definition in the code of Virginia "Prescribed burning" means the controlled application of fire or wildland fuels in either the natural or modified state, under specified environmental conditions, which allows a fire to be confined to a predetermined area and produces the fire behavior and fire characteristics necessary to attain planned fire treatment and ecological, silvicultural, and wildlife management objectives. They are conducted only under certain weather conditions (i.e. during periods of low wind) when flame length and heat can be controlled. Benefits from the use of prescribed fire include:

1. Fuel reduction for fire protection
2. Site preparation for new trees
3. Improvement of wildlife habitat
4. Improved range condition for livestock
5. Maintenance and restoration of desired plant and animal communities

What is the relationship between fire and air quality?

Wildland fires occur naturally and are one of the many natural sources of particulate matter (tiny particles such as dust, soot, etc.) Particulate matter is the main pollutant of concern from smoke because it can cause serious health problems. Smoke can also adversely affect the clarity (visual range) of our air. Wildland fire is also part of the natural ecological process of many ecosystems. Without Wildland fires the ecological health of many forests, rangelands and wilderness areas will decline.

How does wildfire affect wildlife?

Virginia’s wildlife has become adapted to live with occasional wildfires over the years. Usually, animals can move out of the way of a slow-moving fire (such as prescribed or controlled fire). In fact, prescribed fire is often used to improve the quality and quantity of wildlife habitat. A mosaic of burned and unburned areas tends to maximize edge effect that produces a large and varied wildlife population. Wildlife benefits from burning include: stimulation of fruit and seed production; increases in yield and quality of herbage, legumes and browse from hardwood sprouts; and creations of opening for feeding, dusting and travel.

What is the Wildland/Urban interface?

Areas where homes meet the Wildland are called the Wildland/Urban interface. Flammable forest fuels often surround homes located in the woods. Following a few safety tips can minimize the threat to homes:

1. Have a least 30 feet of defensible space surrounding your home. This will reduce the wildfire threat to your home by changing the characteristics of the surround vegetation. Defensible space also allows firefighters room to put out fires.
2. Build with fire-resistant exterior construction materials, such as cement, brick, plaster, and stucco and concrete masonry. Double pane glass windows can make a home more resistant to wildfire heat and flames. Roofs should be Class A.
3. Use landscaping materials and design to also create defensible space. Remove flammable plants that contain resins, oils and waxes that burn readily. Large, leafy hardwood trees should be pruned so that the lowest branches are at least 6 to 10 feet high to prevent a fire on the ground from spreading up to the treetops.
4. Identify your home and neighborhood with legible and clearly marked street names and numbers so emergency vehicles can rapidly find the location of the emergency. Include a driveway that is at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet – provide access to emergency apparatus. In addition, have a disaster plan for your family outlining actions to take in an emergency.

When is fire prevention week and why was it designated?

The history of Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8 and burned for several days doing most of its damage on October 9, 1871. In just 27 hours, this tragic conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more that 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to erupt during this fiery two-day stretch, it wasn’t the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating forest fire in American history. The fire roared through Northwest Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1200 people, and scorching 1.2 million acres before it was done.

Historical accounts of the fire say that the blaze began when several railroad workers clearing land for tracks unintentionally started a brush fire. Before long, the fast-moving flames were whipping through the area “like a tornado,” survivors said. It was the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin that suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town had been destroyed, and some 800 residents lost their lives.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, National Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday-through-Saturday period in which October 9 falls. In addition, the President of the United States has signed a proclamation pronouncing a national observance during that week every year since 1925. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has officially sponsored Fire Prevention Week since the observance was first established.

For additional information, visit our website at www.dof.virginia.gov