CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A pair of fires that burned at the Augusta County/Shenandoah National Park line were two of what the Virginia Department of Forestry reported among 152 wildfires that burned in the fall fire season Oct. 15- Nov. 30.
A DOF release said though the total is much more than the 83 wildfires that burned during the fall 2024 fire season, this year less acreage burned.
In 2024, 2,444 acres burned, compared to 1,733 this year.
DOF response efforts during the fall are credited with protecting 36 homes and 39 other structures with a total value estimated to be over $10 million.
Two fires burning at the same time around November 17 on Calf Mountain, then Bear Den Mountain, closed a portion of both Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail near Rockfish Gap for about a day.
“Although the fall fire season has ended, the threat of wildfire is always present, especially with most of the state registering as moderately or abnormally dry according to the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force,” said Chief of Fire and Emergency Response John Miller.
“The leading cause of wildfires remains escaped debris burning,” Miller said. “Even if there are no fire restrictions in place in your area, we encourage those in drought areas to delay all outdoor burning until conditions improve.”
“Please stay informed by following guidance from local officials,” Miller advised.
The DOF offered the following tips if burning this winter:
- Check with local officials before burning
- Avoid burning if your locality is in a drought
- Avoid burning on dry, windy days
- Keep your burn pile small
- Stay with your fire until it’s completely out (drown, stir, drown again, ensure it’s cool)
- Have a rake or shovel and charged water hose on hand
- Have a phone ready to call 911 if a fire escapes your control
- Consider a “green” alternative to burning yard debris: compost your organic yard waste
