Patrick County has declared a Local Emergency and issued a burning ban, effective immediately, in response to hazardous weather conditions that create extreme fire danger to the citizens and volunteer public safety personnel.
The declaration also bans open air burning in Patrick County until further notice.
Experience has shown that suspending open air burning is an effective way to prevent fire from escaping and allows a quick fire agency response. Not all fires can be prevented, but with open air burning ban, the numbers of wood land and brush fires will greatly reduce.
The ban on open air burning is applicable to public and private property and will remain in effect until the county receives sufficient precipitation to reduce the fire danger.
For additional information, contact Scottie Cassell, Patrick County Emergency Management coordinator, at (276) 694-4940 or email scassell@co.patrick.va.us.