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In light of the persistent dry conditions, Rockbridge County has initiated a ban on all open-air burning, effective this past Monday, Nov. 6.
According to a statement issued by Nathan Ramsey, county fire-rescue chief, this decision follows consultation with the departments of forestry at both the state and federal levels, and aims to ensure the safety of citizens and their properties, as well as to safeguard the well-being of the firefighters who combat uncontrolled fires.
Despite limited rainfall across certain parts of the county, the dry forests and grasslands remain vulnerable to the rapid ignition and spread of wildfires, he said.
This open-air burn ban pertains to the ignition or maintaining an outdoor fire within the county. Examples include the burning of brush, grass, leaves, trash, debris or any other flammable material.
County officials will closely monitor weather conditions and will consider lifting the burn ban as soon as conditions improve.
For more information on fire safety, visit the Virginia Department of Forestry website at http://www.dof.virginia. gov/fire/index.htm.
Last month, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution declaring a drought emergency and requesting assistance from state and federal agencies.
Dry conditions, meanwhile, can be found throughout much of the state. Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Tuesday to assist firefighter response efforts on two wildfires. The fires — the Quaker Run Fire in Madison County and the Tuggles Gap fire in Patrick County — broke containment lines over the weekend.
