CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – October 15 has begun Virginia’s fall fire season through November 30th, and the Virginia Department of Forestry’s Cory Swift urges no debris burning until December. Leaves drying out, falling, then drying out more result in increased fuels to ignite and there’s more of it because of Hurricane Helene. He says many places are starting the season with moisture from the rains, and water tables are up. But all it takes is four-to-five days of dry weather to begin the dry-out of leaves on the ground and grasses.

Swift says the northern Valley also didn’t get as much rain as central Virginia and while we’re a bit moist to start the season, the Valley is having a more typical start. Last year’s fall and this year’s spring fire season set records and were the worst seasons in 30 years. Swift notes 156 fires burned nearly 25,000 acres in the fall 2023, and 411 fires burned 20,000 acres last spring. The last time Virginia experienced such damaging fire seasons was over 30 years ago.

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