Forest Protection and Fire Prevention
Current Fire Information
Virginia
- Latest Report - updated information
on fires throughout the state.
- Feb. 10, 2008 - Photos l Resources used to fight fires.
- Local Burn Bans and Restrictions
- Fire Danger Rating information.
- KBDI Drought Index
- Weather and Fire Behavior
Regional and National Information
- Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) mobilizes aircraft, crews, and equipment wildland fires and emergency/disaster relief efforts.
- National Interagency Coordination Center
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) protects our forest resources from fire. The principle goals of the Forest Protection Program are:
- to prevent injury or loss of human life
- minimize property damage
- protect the forest resources.
Learn more about the VDOF Forest Protection Program.
Spring Wildfire Season in Virginia
February 15 - April 30
Fall Wildfire Season in Virginia
October 15 to November 30
The Virginia Department of Forestry and Smokey Bear thank you for abiding by all burning laws and restrictions.
Fire Safety
- Burn Safely Read and follow these fire safety tips to help you burn safely.
Wildfire
- Learn all about wildfire in Virginia, including the causes of forest fires.
- Wildland firefighting is dangerous work. Follow these safety and logistical essentials.
- This review of the Island Fork Fire describes an incident on which 2 firefighters lost their lives.
Wildfire Prevention
Firewise Virginia - Complete information to make your home, property and community safe from wildfire.
Help make your subdivision firewise by using this sample guideline for subdivision ordinances.
Hot Ash Safety - Wood ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days.
Holiday Safety:
Halloween:
- Christmas and Hanukah
- Halloween Safety Tips (English; PDF format)
- Halloween Safety Tips (Spanish; PDF format)
- Create a Smokey Bear Jack O'Lantern with this stencil and instructions (English; Word format)
Wildfire Education
All About Smokey Bear Coloring sheet: July 4 Safety with Smokey Bear (English; Word format)
Get started in Prevention Education
Wildfire Prevention Education for
teachers.
Southwestern Virginia Interagency Fire Prevention
Education Team
Learn about our Prevention & Education workshops!
Programs and Training
- Dry Hydrants - Learn how fire departments use these non-pressurized pipe systems to refill their tank trucks.
Training and Workshops
- Visit our Training and Calendar pages to see upcoming events.
- Did you attend one of our Wildland Fire Training Academies? Visit our training academy page.
Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management
- Prescribed Burning Program - prevent fires by managing the forest "fuel" supply. Also provides information on laws, and certification.
Volunteer Fire Department Information
- Federal Excess Property Program. The Federal Excess Property Program (FEPP) permits the no-cost LOAN of equipment to rural Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs).
- Safety Refresher presentation (English; PowerPoint format; 12MB)
- Grants:
- Virginia Firefighter Assistance and Dry Hydrant Grants - see Financial Assistance and Incentives.
Presentations
Certified Burn Manager Presentations
All presentations are in Microsoft PowerPoint format and a viewer is required for viewing.
- Fire Behavior (23MB)
- Chemistry of Fire and Smoke (10MB)
- Fire Effects II (35MB)
- Prescribed Fire in Resource Management and Fire Effects on Vegetation (35MB)
- Environmental Effects: soil, water and air quality (13MB)
- Fire Weather Meteorologist (8MB)
- A Landowner's View (93MB)
- Safety as a Value
- Superfog (10MB)
- Benefits of Prescribed Burning for Wildlife
Emergencies - Prepare and Respond
- Evacuate! During a wildfire or other emergency, have an evacuation plan to keep safe.
- Prepare Your Trees for a Storm. Prevention tips and guidelines for hiring an arborist.
- Learn what VDOF does during an emergency and what you can do to prepare for one.
- Hurricane Isabel - Learn about VDOF's efforts during this disaster.
Hurricane Information
- National Hurricane Center - Tropical Prediction Center
- Tropical Information - From the Weather Underground.
- Interactive Hurricane Tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Laws
- 4 p.m. Burn Law from the Code of Virginia. l Certified Prescribed Burn Manager exemption from the 4 p.m. Burn Law (due Feb. 1) l Code of Virginia
Additional resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Publications
- Presentations
- Links to Partner agencies, organizations and state forestry agencies.
Last modified: Thursday, 12-Feb-2009 10:32:23 EST