The open air burn law is in effect Wednesday, February 15 through Monday, April 30. Open air burns which take place closer than 300 feet to woods or dry grass are only allowed between 4:00 pm and midnight. These fires must be attended at all times.
The Virginia Department of Forestry’s article Before You Burn provides additional information about the burn ban including what items cannot be burned, precautions, and alternatives to burning. Equally important is the explanation of the reason for the burn law:
Reason for the 4 PM Burning Law
Debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires, closely followed by intentionally set or “arson” fires. The 4 PM Burning Law was adopted during the 1940s to reduce the number of wildfires which occurred each spring, when Virginia has traditionally seen an increased number of fires.
Fires are more likely during late winter and early spring because winds are usually elevated, the relative humidity is lower, and the fuels on the forest floor are extremely dry, having “cured” all winter without the shade of tree leaves. After 4:00 p.m., winds usually calm down and the relative humidity levels rise, both of which reduce the potential for a debris fire or any outdoor open-air fire to escape.
For those who want to learn more about the statute, read the Virginia burn law which is in Chapter 11. Forest Resources and the Department of Forestry.
Sheriff’s offices enforce the state law, a provision of which is “Any person violating any provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor for each separate offense.”
Photo: Burning Brush Pile by OO87adam used under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License