Woodbridge, Va. — Virginia’s Burn Law goes into effect Wednesday placing restrictions on where and when residents can burn open air fires.
The law, which is instituted annually and lasts through April 30, prohibits anyone to burn brush or any other flammable materials before 4 p.m. if the fire is within 300 feet of a wooded area, an area filled with brush or grass, or any other flammable materials, said Prince William Fire and Rescue Department spokeswoman Kim Hylander.
The ban also applies to campfires, she added.
Officials institute the ban because the floor of the forest it typically drier at this time of year making conditions more favorable for forest fires. Normally, the winds are calmer and relative humidity increases by 4 p.m., making that a more favorable time to burn.
On February 19, 2011, firefighters in Prince William County and in surrounding areas were called to a series of wildfires that were fueled by high winds. It was the busiest day in the department’s history, officials said.
During the time Virginia’s burn law is in effect, all fires must be extinguished by midnight, said Hylander.
