Woodland Fires Scorch State

Mar 17, 07:15 AM

Current Headlines: By Carrie Sidener, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va.

Mar. 17--Woodland fires have consumed more acres in Virginia this year than during the same period last year, the Virginia Department of Forestry says.

That's concerning forestry officials, since last year was the busiest year for woodland fires since 2000.

More than 5,000 acres have burned since Jan. 1, compared to a little more than 3,700 during the same months last year.

That amounts to a 34 percent increase, despite the number of fires decreasing 12 percent over last year.

About 3,400 of those acres have burned in far Southwest Virginia, said forestry spokesman John Campbell.

"If the trend continues, we could be in for another tough year," said John Miller, director of resource protection for the forestry department, in a news release from the Department of Forestry.

Amherst County has seen seven fires this year, burning 1.5 acres, Campbell said. Bedford County has had three woodland fires, which has scorched 10 acres.

With more people moving into forested areas, these fires have threatened more homes and other structures, the Forestry Department said. Already, firefighters have had to protect 41 percent more homes from forest fires.

"More than 94 percent of all woodland fires in Virginia are human-caused, with the number one reason being the burning of trash and yard debris," Fred Turck, assistant director of resource protection, said in the news release.

Arson, equipment, smoking and children are the other common causes of wild land fires.

"If people would take the proper precautions, we could greatly reduce the fire threat in Virginia," Turck said.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va.

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