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Wild fires a hazard this spring, USFS says
Charlottesville - Spring has sprung and people now spend more time out of doors enjoying the mild temperatures and spring blooms. They need to remember that along with the joys of spring, there are also some dangers. One outdoor danger, all too common, is wildfires.
The Virginia Department of Forestry has been busy since the historic rash of wildfiresduring the week of Feb. 10. An additional 113 fires have burned another 3,543 acres and there are still several weeks left in Virginia's traditional spring wildfire season.
Since the first of January, 666 wildfiresburned a total of 18,017 acres and damaged or destroyed 12 homes.
The 4 p.m. law remains in effect until April 30. Every day before 4 p.m., this important law prohibits any open burning within 300 feet of woodlands. The law is a prevention tool, and, in combination with the Department of Forestry's request that everyone be extremely careful with any use of fireeven after 4 p.m., Virginia can be kept green.
Fred Turck, VDOF's assistant director of resource protection, said, "The weather in springtime always amazes me, and it seems to change on a whim - one day sunny and bright, the next day cloudy and cool and the next day the wind is howling. Weather plays such a critical role in the ability for a wildfire to occur and in the suppression of the fireonce it has started. Please keep an eye on the weather. And if a warm, sunny and windy day is predicted, please postpone any outdoor activities, especially debris burning, that may cause a wildfire."
Soon the woods will be greening up and the grass will be cut on a regular basis and the threat of wildfireswill be greatly reduced. Until then, VDOF wishes everyone to have an enjoyable and wildfirefree spring.
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