Open air fire causes wildfire, occupant charged

Photo / Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services

Just after 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, Warren County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to the 1800 block of Oregon Hollow Road for a reported brush fire which was threatening multiple structures.

Units quickly arrived on the scene to find approximately 3/4 of an acre of wooded area involved in fire with the fire spreading away from any structures. Firefighters were able to quickly control the blaze before any structures were damaged. It was determined that the fire was caused by an open air fire spreading to the wooded area when winds increased.

The occupant of the home where the fire started was issued a summons by the Virginia Department of Forestry for violation of VA Code 10.1-1142. The occupant faces being guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor and may be liable for the full amount of all expenses incurred in suppressing the fire.

This incident should serve as a reminder as to why the 4pm Burn Law is in effect between February 15th and April 30th.

Briefly, the 4pm Burn Law regulates the open air burning before 4pm and after midnight. This law was adopted to reduce the number of wildfires during this period of risk associated with weather conditions that include elevated winds, lower relative humidity, and dryer forest floor fuels.

For more information on the 4pm Burn Law, visit www.dof.virginia.gov/fire.

Units on the call:

• Engine 1
• Brush 8
• Brush 9
• Brush 10
• Tanker 3
• Tanker 8
• Tanker 9
• Ambulance 4
• Fire Marshal 1
• Forest Warden 1 (Department of Forestry)