Statewide burn ban goes into effect Saturday

The ban goes until the end of April

Stock photo of brush fire

ROANOKE, Va. – Despite the fact that February has been exceptionally wet in our part of the Commonwealth, a statewide burn ban goes into effect Saturday, the 15th.

The statewide law prohibits open air burning before 4 p.m. within 300 feet of woodlands. This applies to camp fires, brush piles, trash and anything that can spread a fire. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, 95% of wildfires are caused by human activity.

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The ban is in place through April 30th.

When weather systems pass through this time of year, the relative humidity can drop by a lot afterward. That, in combination with a gusty wind, can act as a fuel for these kinds of fires.


About the Author

Meteorologist Chris Michaels is an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Certified Broadcaster, forecasting weather conditions in southwest Virginia on WSLS 10 News from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays on Virginia Today.

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