NBC12 News, Weather Sports, Traffic, and Programming Guide for Richmond, VA | Open burning restrictions soon take effect

Open burning restrictions soon take effect

By Sunni Blevins - bio | email

Posted by Terry Alexander - email

HANOVER, VA (WWBT) - Strict open burning restrictions go into effect statewide starting February 15. Firefighters hope to prevent a busy season of brush fires. 

Dry and windy conditions that often occur during the Spring are the reasons behind the ban.   When the ban takes effect, burning is prohibited within 300 feet of any flammable material, including grass and brush, between midnight and 4 p.m. Violators face fines of up to $350. 

Hanover Fire Battalion Chief William Jones says the ban is necessary. He points to the hundreds of acres lost to brush fires last year, including a large fire that occurred near Green Top Store on Route 1 last February.      

"The fire jumped a major throughoufare, four lanes of traffic to the other side," Jones said.  "That one day we had 35 major brush fires going with over 100 pieces of equipment responding that day."

The open burning restrictions last through April 30. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Forestry's website. A link can be found on nbc12.com under "All Access."

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