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Fire Safety For All Seasons
Fire Seasons in Virginia
The following dates have been designated in the state of Virginia to promote fire safety and minimize risk of injury and property loss:
October 15
This begins the Virginia Department of Forestry’s autumn wild, land fire season.
February 15
This date initiates the statewide burning ban (4:00 p.m. Burning Law) and indicates the start of the spring fire season in Virginia. This law prohibits burning before 4:00 p.m. each day through April 30, if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush land, or fields containing dry grasses or other flammable materials.
The following dates have been designated in the state of Virginia to promote fire safety and minimize risk of injury and property loss:
October 15
This begins the Virginia Department of Forestry’s autumn wild, land fire season.
February 15
This date initiates the statewide burning ban (4:00 p.m. Burning Law) and indicates the start of the spring fire season in Virginia. This law prohibits burning before 4:00 p.m. each day through April 30, if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush land, or fields containing dry grasses or other flammable materials.
Fire Seasons in Virginia
The following dates have been designated in the state of Virginia to promote fire safety and minimize risk of injury and property loss:
October 15
This begins the Virginia Department of Forestry’s autumn wild, land fire season.
February 15
This date initiates the statewide burning ban (4 p.m. Burning Law) and indicates the start of the spring fire season in Virginia.
This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day through April 30, if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush land, or fields containing dry grasses or other flammable materials.
The following dates have been designated in the state of Virginia to promote fire safety and minimize risk of injury and property loss:
October 15
This begins the Virginia Department of Forestry’s autumn wild, land fire season.
February 15
This date initiates the statewide burning ban (4 p.m. Burning Law) and indicates the start of the spring fire season in Virginia.
This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day through April 30, if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush land, or fields containing dry grasses or other flammable materials.
Fall Fire Safety
In autumn, dry conditions combined with colder temperatures can often create an environment in which fires, outdoors and indoors, can quickly ignite and spread if proper measures are not taken. Using caution and keeping aware of basic safety principles can serve to reduce fire hazards in the home and in the community.
In autumn, dry conditions combined with colder temperatures can often create an environment in which fires, outdoors and indoors, can quickly ignite and spread if proper measures are not taken. Using caution and keeping aware of basic safety principles can serve to reduce fire hazards in the home and in the community.
Autumn Campfires
- Prior to starting a campfire, check with local safety officials regarding open air burning restrictions or bans.
- Only build campfires in fire pits, fire rings, or grilling units surrounded by rocks; do not start campfires directly on exposed ground. Use kindling to start the fire rather than flammable fluids. Douse any matches with water prior to disposal.
- It is recommended that campfires be placed at least 25 feet away from trees, grass, leaves, tents/sleeping units, or other flammable materials. Keep campfires small, no more than three feet in diameter by three feet in height. Secure a 10 foot open space perimeter around the fire site; keep foot traffic a distance of at least 3 feet away from any campfire.
- Avoid igniting a campfire on windy days as sparks can spread rapidly to combustible materials; monitor weather conditions at a camp site to ensure changing wind directions do not carry sparks toward flammable objects.
- Never leave a campfire unattended; keep water, a shovel, flashlight, gloves and other supplies close at hand to minimize the need to leave the site; stack extra wood upwind and at a distance, yet within sight of the campfire.
- Monitor children closely; loose clothing, burning food items (marshmallows, hot dogs, etc.) and metal skewers can be potential hazards. Do not permit running or playing near open flames. Keep first aid kits on-hand.
- Use plenty of water to douse a campfire. Once applied, stir embers and reapply water to ensure all coals are completely extinguished. Shovel dirt or sand to cover the site. Do not let campfires burn themselves out as underlying root systems can combust and spread fire underground. If it’s too hot to touch, the campfire is too hot to leave.
Halloween Fire Precautions
Family traditions often include the carving of pumpkins, “trick-or treating” and hayrides in late October. Some simple steps can make this holiday safer and minimize the risk of fires and injuries for children and adults alike.
Fallen leaves are often considered a nuisance by property owners, however, alternative methods of disposing natural yard materials (mulching, composting, etc.) should be considered rather than burning. If deciding to burn leaves:
Colder temperatures often prompt families to use additional heating sources in homes. While effective, these units may pose potential hazards if not used properly or if not regularly maintained or monitored. The following are basic precautions families can take to ensure the safe use of internal heating devices:
Wood Stoves
Family traditions often include the carving of pumpkins, “trick-or treating” and hayrides in late October. Some simple steps can make this holiday safer and minimize the risk of fires and injuries for children and adults alike.
- Instead of candles, use battery-operated lighting or LED units in pumpkins.
- Implement a “no smoking” policy on hayrides or other activities.
- Keep corn stalks and flammable decorations well away from high traffic areas.
- Select costumes that are flame retardant and have minimal edges/surfaces which could ignite if exposed to sparks or open flames.
- Teach children to drop and roll in case of a costume fire.
Fallen leaves are often considered a nuisance by property owners, however, alternative methods of disposing natural yard materials (mulching, composting, etc.) should be considered rather than burning. If deciding to burn leaves:
- Check with local fire officials to determine if any outdoor burning bans are in effect.
select a location away from any structures, trees, or other flammable materials to create the leaf pile; do not use fluids to ignite leaves. - Ensure smoke is not directly inhaled as burning leaves can create toxic fumes. Monitor wind conditions closely; be considerate of neighbors and their property.
- Thoroughly douse all embers with water once leaves have burned; do not leave ignited or smoldering leaf piles unattended.
Colder temperatures often prompt families to use additional heating sources in homes. While effective, these units may pose potential hazards if not used properly or if not regularly maintained or monitored. The following are basic precautions families can take to ensure the safe use of internal heating devices:
Wood Stoves
- Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions; select units with solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal.
- Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams.
- Use only seasoned wood for fuel; do not use green wood, artificial logs, paper or trash.
- Be sure to keep combustible objects at least three feet away from wood stoves.
- Citizens should only purchase heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Ensure the unit has a thermostat control mechanism, and an automatic shut-off feature.
- Do not place items on top of heating units; keep combustibles at least three feet away from a heater and unplug the unit when not in use.
- Never fill kerosene heaters with other fuel sources; only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. Use kerosene heaters in a well-ventilated area; refill the unit outside, taking precautions to not over-fill the tank.
- Have chimney or wood stoves inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
- Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
- Leave glass doors open while burning a fire; this aids combustion and minimizes creosote build-up in the chimney. Securely close the metal mesh screen to keep sparks and debris from leaving the fireplace area. Close glass fireplace doors when the fire is extinguished. Always use a heavy metal, mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have doors.
- Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures. Keep air inlets on open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces or wood stoves.
- Use fire-resistant materials on walls around fireplaces and wood burning units.
- Keep roofs and chimney areas free of leaves, pine needles, and other debris to minimize risk of fire.
- Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or other debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
- Place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate prior to igniting a fire.
- Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside the home.