Outdoor Fires Unlawful Before 4PM – February 15th Through April 30th

Virginia’s 4:00 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect on February 15th. The 4:00 p.m. Burning Law comes into effect each spring and is different from the burning bans, which are invoked only during periods of extreme fire danger. Debris burning continues to be the leading cause of forest fires in Virginia.
Briefly, the 4:00 p.m. Burning Law states: from February 15th through April 30th of each year, no burning before 4:00 p.m. is permitted if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brushland, or fields containing dry grass or other flammable material.
Since forest fuels cure during the winter months, the danger of fire is higher in early spring than in summer when the forest and grasses are green with new growth. The 4:00 p.m. Burning Law is an effective tool in the prevention of forest fires.
For more information on what you can do to protect yourself and your property, how to become “firewise,” or to pick up a complete copy of the Forest Fire Laws, contact your local office of the Virginia Department of Forestry at (540) 962-2214. You can also log onto www.dof.virginia.gov