Below is a press release from the Washington County Virginia Department of Emergency Management
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2023
WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA DECLARES LOCAL EMERGENCY
County Declares Emergency Due to Dry Weather Conditions
Abingdon, VA – Washington County, Virginia has declared a Local Emergency issuing a ban on burning, effective immediately in response to the fire hazard conditions that create extreme fire danger. This ban is the result of an extremely dry weather and no significant rain fall.
This DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DUE TO DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS in accordance with Section 44-146.21 and 15.2-922.1 of the Code of Virginia and hereby establishes a ban on open-air burning for the County of Washington until further notice and putting on alert the response and recovery programs of all applicable local and inter jurisdictional emergency operations plans should activation be warranted.
Experience has shown that suspending open burning is an effective way of preventing fire escapes and allows a quick-fire agency response, especially as Washington County continues to experience warmer and drier weather. Although all fires cannot be prevented through a burn suspension, their numbers can be significantly reduced. Washington County Department of Emergency Management wants to remind everyone that it is each individual’s responsibility to help prevent fires that destroy lives, property, and our wildland.
The ban on burning is applicable to public and private property and will remain in effect until Washington County receives a significant amount of precipitation to reduce the fire danger.
Comentários