More than 60 percent of Virginia’s annual average 1,000 wildfires occur in the spring, with March and April historically being the most active months. To help reduce the number of wildfires this time of year, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect February 15. The law prohibits open burning between the hours of midnight and 4 p.m. each day.
Burning is permitted between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight, but officials at the Virginia Department of Forestry caution people that, even though burning is allowed from 4 p.m. to midnight, do not burn if the weather conditions are such that a fire will likely escape.
A violation of the 4 p.m. Burning Law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine.