Waiver for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Governor McDonnell Announces Penalty and Interest Waiver for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

RICHMOND—Governor McDonnell along with Tax Commissioner Craig M. Burns has announced that Virginia will provide a penalty waiver to those individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.  This penalty waiver applies to any late returns filed or payments made by affected taxpayers between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.  To notify the Department of Taxation that you were affected by Hurricane Sandy, you must write “Hurricane Sandy” at the top of your return.  The Department of Taxation will then abate any late-filing or late-payment penalties that would otherwise apply.

To qualify for this penalty waiver, taxpayers must be unable to meet their filing obligations because the financial books and records they need to file their taxes are unavailable because of hurricane damage or power outage.

The penalty waiver applies to the following returns:

·        Individual and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns (Forms 760, 763, 760PY, and 770): Individual and fiduciary income tax returns with a due date or an extended due date of November 1, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.  Taxpayers whose original due date for the return falls on November 1 may elect to use the six-month automatic extension for filing their Virginia income tax returns as usual.  However, the six-month extension does not apply to payment of the tax.  A taxpayer who elects to use the six-month extension would need to pay at least 90% of his final tax liability by the original due date for filing the return in order to avoid any penalties.

·        Withholding Returns (Forms VA-5, VA-15 and VA-16): Withholding returns with a due date of October 30, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Forest Products Tax Returns (Form 1034): Forest product tax returns with a due date of October 30, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Corn Tax Returns (Form CO-1): Corn tax returns with a due date of October 31, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Cotton Tax Returns (Form CX-1): Cotton tax returns with a due date of October 31, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Soybean Tax Returns: Soybean tax returns with a due date of October 31, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Sheep Tax Returns (Form SH-1): Sheep tax returns with a due date of October 31, 2012 will be granted a penalty waiver if the return is filed between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

·        Other State Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation: An automatic penalty waiver is granted for any other state tax return filed late with the Department between October 29, 2012 and November 9, 2012.

The penalty waiver also applies to filers who use electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payment.  Affected EFT filers should contact the Department of Taxation at (804) 367-8037 if they receive notices of penalty.

Additional penalty waivers may be granted in hardship cases.  Written requests for additional waivers should be emailed to TaxIndReturns@tax.virginia.gov for personal tax inquiries and TaxBusQuestions@tax.virginia.gov for business tax inquiries, or directed to:

Virginia Department of Taxation

Customer Service Section

Severe Storm Relief Extension

P.O. Box 1115

Richmond, VA 23218-1115

Sandy may be gone but there is still work to be done

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by Sandy, most of Virginians are fortunate to NOT have been in the path of major damage. Our friends, family and neighbors to the north will have many days/weeks of recovery infront of them. Please support local and national relief agencies as you are able to do so.
With things winding down here at the VA EOC I thought it would be nice to put faces to those who have been tasked with staffing the ESF 4 desk and also support the JIC.

A typical briefing held at 0700 and 1900 daily

The room was full

Fred Turck ESF 4/VDOF

Dave Jolly ESF 4/VDFP

John Campbell JIC/VDOFMark Buff JIC/VDFP

Russ Chandler ESF4 / VDFP

Steve Grainer ESF4 / VDFP

Bobby Bailey ESF4 /VDFP

Steve Counts ESF 4/ VDOF

Tim Hansbrough ESF 4 / VDFPFrom time to time especially in the early hours of the morning or late at night we had folks show up to help as needed.

Seriously, all employees of both agencies, The VA Dept of Fire Programs and the VA Dept of Forestry should be commended for their support of the Sandy Response effort. If you were deployed to the EOC, placed into service locally or fullfilled your "normal" job duties you assisted many citizens of the Commonwealth that were in need of support at this critical time. Hopefully you and your family all are ok and we all will be back to our regular job soon.

Fall is here and with it Fire Prevention Week and Halloween

Before you get to this years blog about Halloween and Fall Fire Safety you might want to check out the previous posts for the archives.

http://vasmokeybear.blogspot.com/2010/10/have-happy-and-safe-halloween-from.html

http://vasmokeybear.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html

This years theam for Fire Prevention Week (October8-14) is Have 2 Ways Out. Although this is specifically talking about home/building evacuations I believe it should also include knowing 2 ways out of your community/subdivision should there be an emergency like a wildfire , hurricane or tornado that might block your usual way out. Below is a coloring sheet I developed for your to talk with your children about while planning for your family's safety.

FALL SAFETY

Time Changes Mean Battery Changes

Get in the habit of changing the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors every fall and spring when changing the clocks for Daylight Savings Time. It is also a good idea to make it standard procedure in your household to verify that all fire extinguishers are fully charged and in working order when you adjust the clocks each season.

Home Heating Tips

No matter what type of device you use to heat your home, making sure your heating devices and/or systems are in good working order is an important part of learning some fall fire safety tips. Many things can go wrong with heating equipment during the spring and summer months. Verify that everything you need to keep your home warm throughout fall and winter is in good working order before you experience the first cold snap of the season.

Central Heating System Safety Tips

• Get your central heating system cleaned, inspected and serviced by a certified HVAC (heating, venting and air conditioning) contractor every year before using it.
• If you have a gas heater, make sure that you have a sufficient quantity of fully functioning carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home.

Space Heater Safety Tips

• Make sure that any space heaters are surrounded by at least three feet of empty space.
• Never place clothing or any other objects on a space heater to dry.
• Do not place space heaters near furniture or drapery.
• Turn space heaters off when you leave the house or go to bed.
• Avoid storing any combustible items near heaters.

Fire Safety Plans Downloadable Safety Plans & Tools Save time. PowerPoints & More Safety.BLR.com

Propane Heaters Trusted & Reliable Propane Heater Service, Sales & Install-Call Today www.QuarlesInc.com

Home Depot Official Site Schedule Heating Installs Online Or Visit Your Local Home Depot Now! www.HomeDepot.com/Installation

Fireplace Safety Tips

• Get your chimney inspected each year to make sure that it is safe.
• Hire a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney every fall.
• Repair any cracks in fireplaces.
• Use fireplace screens to keep sparks and fire debris inside the fireplace.
• Do not every use gasoline to start a fire in the fireplace.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Make sure that combustible materials are not stored within three feet of your fireplace.
• For natural gas fireplaces, get all connections and lines inspected before use each season.
• Remember that outdoor fireplaces can be just as dangerous as indoor units, and observe all safety precautions when using them.

Fire Safety Tips for Holiday Decorations

• Do not use candles in Halloween jack-o-lanterns. Flashlights are much safer.
• Make sure that children's costumes are made with fire retardant materials.
• Use only fire retardant holiday decorations.
• Verify that all holiday lights and extension cords have been tested by an organization such as Factory Mutual or Underwriters Laboratory.

Family Fire Safety Tips

• Teach your kids how to respond in the event of a fire.
• Make sure young children know how to dial 911.
• Establish and practice a fire escape plan with your family that includes a designated meeting area outside the home.
• Practice stop, drop and roll with your children so they learn how to escape beneath a fire.
• Teach everyone in your family multiple ways to escape from every room in the event of a fire.
• Make sure that there is a sufficient quantity of smoke detectors in your home.
• Verify each month that smoke detectors are in working order.
• Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Do not place lit candles where they can be reached by children.
• Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Do not leave candles burning when you go to sleep.
• Don't leave cooking food unattended on the stove.
• Keep everything that might be flammable away from your stove.
• Make sure all flammable substances are properly stored in safe containers and out of reach of youngsters.

Outdoor Fall Fire Safety Tips

• Clear your roof and gutters of unnecessary build up of debris, such as pine needles and leaves.
• Learn the outdoor burning regulations in your area, and do not engage in illegal burning of leaves and other outdoor debris.

Safety Matters

There is nothing more important than the safety of your family. Everyone in your home needs to know how to behave responsibly to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a fire. However, because fires can start at any time without warning, it is also very important that the members of your household know how to react in the event of a fire. It's a good idea to review fire prevention and safety tips with your family every fall, and several other times throughout the year.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY

When purchasing a Halloween costume, make sure the label reads "Flame Resistant."

Halloween is a fun holiday but it’s also an important time to practice fire safety. The occurrence of fire increases around Halloween due to arson and the use of candles as decorations. Follow these tips for a happy and fire-safe Halloween:

• If you buy a costume, make sure the label says “Flame Resistant.”  Flame Resistant means the costume will be hard to catch on fire and if it does, the fire will go out fast.
• If you make a costume, try not to make one that is big and baggy so that the material doesn’t touch candles or other flames.  Use flame-resistant fabrics, such as polyester and nylon.  These materials will resist burning if exposed to a flame.
• Tell kids to stay away from candles and jack-o'-lanterns that may be on steps and porches.  Their costumes could catch fire if they get too close.
• Kids should never carry candles when they are trick-or-treating.  Always use a flashlight, flameless candle, or light stick.
• Tell kids to let you know right away if they see other kids playing with matches or lighters.
• Don’t use candles for decorations.  They’re dangerous, especially when left unattended.
• Use only decorative lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.  Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.  Throw away damaged sets.  Don't overload extension cords.
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for the latest on Halloween-related consumer product recalls.
• If you have a Halloween party, check for cigarettes under furniture cushions and in areas where people were smoking before you go to bed.
• Remove any materials around your home or property, such as garbage or excess vegetation, which an arsonist could use to start a fire.

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Putting the wet stuff on the red stuff with aircraft

It now seems that the heat wave affecting Virginia has broken and with that some rain is beginning to occur in places which are a welcomed sight for firefighters, farmers and all of Virginians. However with the rains there have been a few scattered storm related problems. Power outages continue to be a major issue.

Power Outages as of 1900 9 July:

Isolated severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of 8 July and 9 July caused additional power outages across Virginia. Dominion Power had completed all power restoration from the 29 June storm. 

Statewide                                                                    9,014 (-4,031 since Sit Rep #15)

Dominion                                                                    3,629 (-2,916)

·         Southeastern Virginia                                                         1,877

·         Northern Virginia                                                             750

·         Shenandoah Valley/Western Piedmont                 592

·         With respect to 8 July storms, power restoration projected to be completed on 10 July

APCO                                                                           5,385 (-1,115)

·         Amherst County                                                     2,880

Since there is no real new news about wildfire activity

 in Virginia I thought I would talk about water. No not the

 water that is currently falling from the sky but about the

 water that is delivered on a wildfire from a variety of aircraft.

 I hope you find this info interesting and informative.

Aerial Firefighting Tutorial

Introduction
The use of aircraft to drop fire retardant, foam, or water to suppress wildfires is an essential wildland firefighting tool. The speed, mobility and retardant delivery capability of aerial firefighting aircraft make them very effective resources in support of firefighters on the ground. The variety of aircraft available within U. S. aviation assets provides an appropriate firefighting capability for nearly every wildland fire situation, from wilderness to the urban interface.

Aircraft
There are three primary kinds of aerial firefighting aircraft available within the U. S.

    
• Multi-Engine Airtankers: 

Multi-engine airtankers are comprised of ex-military and retired commercial transport aircraft. They carry from 1800-3,600 gallons of retardant. The speed, range, and retardant delivery capability of these large capacity airtankers make them very effective in both initial attack and large fire support. These airtankers typically make retardant drops from a height of 150 to 200 feet above vegetation and terrain, at airspeeds from 125 to 150 knots. Large fixed-wing airtankers have complex, computer controlled retardant dispersal systems capable of both precise incremental drops and long trailing drops one-fourth of a mile or more in length. Retardant flow rates can also be controlled to vary the retardant coverage level dispersed as required by the intensity of the fire behavior and vegetative fuel type.

• Helicopters: 

 
 

 

Small, medium and large helicopters carry from 100 to 3,000 gallons of water, foam, or retardant in either buckets slung beneath the aircraft, or in fixed-tanks. Large helitankers can be very cost effective, making rapid multiple drops of 2,000 gallons or more on escaping wildfires by refilling at nearby water sources or at portable retardant bases. The internally mounted retardant tanks for the larger helicopters are also computer controlled, which allow them to drop precise incremental patterns or long trailing lines as required by the fire situation. This is particularly important in urban/ wildland fire interface situations near water sources where they can bring to bear rapid revisit times and precise retardant dropping accuracy. Small and medium helicopters are most effective in the direct support of firefighters on the ground, making precision drops on specific targets.

• Single Engine Airtankers (SEATS): 

These small, fixed-wing aircraft carry from 400-800 gallons of foam or fire retardant. SEATS can operate from remote airstrips and open fields or closed roads, reloading at portable retardant bases. SEATS are predominantly modified agricultural aircraft; however, the 800-gallon Air Tractor 802 is designed specifically for wildland firefighting. SEATS are most effective in the initial attack of small wildfires within 50 miles of a reload base where turn-around times are short and repeated drops can be made quickly.

And now for some Water Trivia

 

• although three percent of the Earth’s water is fresh, only one percent is available for human consumption. In fact, if all the world’s water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for human use would equal only about one tablespoon.
• 80 percent of the Earth’s surface is water—it acts as an insulator and helps regulate global temperature.
• water is the only substance found on Earth naturally in three forms—water can be solid, liquid, or gas.
• the average person uses well over 133 gallons of water per day.
• Structural firefighters estimate to protect a Single-family dwelling takes about 5,000 gallons of water.
  
  
  

Trivia Challenge

1. How long can a human survive without water?
a. one day
b. one week
c. one month
d. two months

2. How much does one gallon of water weigh?
a. 3.52 pounds
b. 15.62 pounds
c. 8.34 pounds
d. 11.25 pounds

3. On average, how much water is used to hand wash a sink full of dishes?
a. 10 gallons
b. 20 gallons
c. 30 gallons
d. 50 gallons

4. Approximately how many gallons of water does it take to make four new tires?
a. 2,000
b. 1,000
c. 1,600
d. 150

5. Approximately how many gallons of water does it take to manufacture a new car?
a. 3,000
b. 9,000
c. 20,000
d. 39,000

6. In the United States, from what material were the first water pipes made?
a. metal
b. rubber
c. fire-charred logs
d. clay

Trivia Challenge - Answers

1. b
2. c
3. c
4. b
5. a
6. c

HOW MUCH WATER We talked about various aircraft delivering between 100 and 3,000 gallons of water/retardant but just how much is 1,000 gallons? can you visualize?

Here are a few ways to help...

One acre foot equals 326,700 gallons of water. Picture a football field (approximately one acre) covered one- foot deep in water.

An olympic sized swimming pool holds about 660,000 gallons.

Increase in wildfire activity and an update on Neighbor Mtn and Point 2

In addition to the 2 fires below (the Neighbor Mountain and Point 2) the state had 33 fires for 177 acres over the weekend. Several place received rain withe the storms but many areas received little or no rain, just heavy winds and lightning. 19 of the 33 fires reported were lightning fires.

Neighbor Mountain Fire Incident Update

Monday, July 2, 2012

Information: 404-354-5027 or 404-354-5118

Increased smoke is expected from the Neighbor Mountain Fire.

Overview:

precipitation from the recent storm, but has again begun to increase due to drying conditions. This will result in

increased smoke.

The fire has been burning since June 26, 2012. Fire activity was reduced as a result of

Size:

Shenandoah National Park.

Estimated at 1125 acres as of 4:00 p.m. on 7/01/12, and is still entirely within the boundaries of

Containment:

20% at 4:00 p.m. on 7/01/12. No estimated date of containment.

Fire Conditions:

lines. The forest is a mix of hardwoods, mountain laurel, blueberry and leaf litter.

The fire is burning in steep, rocky terrain and moving slowly downhill toward containment

Today’s Strategy:

Construction of indirect lines is to be completed today.

Crews will continue to build and strengthen lines with direct attack as conditions permit.

Current Resources:

a unified command with the National Park Service and the Virginia Dept. of Forestry to manage the fire.

Resources assigned to the fire include personnel from the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, US

Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Forestry, Mississippi Forestry Commission, and many other

cooperating agencies. There are 237 personnel working on the incident.

The Southern Area Red Team, as a Type 2 incident management team has established

Threats:

No immediate threats to structures.

Fire Closures:



Cutoff, Knob Mountain, Neighbor Mountain, Jeremys Run. Byrd’s Nest #4 Shelter.

The following trails are closed: Appalachian Trail between Elkwallow and Beahms Gap, Knob Mountain



Visitor facilities, Skyline Drive, local highways and amenities all remain open.

Incident Information Sources:

communities – neighbormtnfire@gmail.com. Current information will be available on the park twitter and

facebook sites – http://www.facebook.com/shenandoahnps and

Fire details can also be found on

POINT 2 FIRE

Incident Overview

The Point 2 Wildland Fire is located entirely on national forest lands on Massanutten Mountain between Veach Gap and Sherman Gap in the counties of Warren and Shenandoah. The fire poses a potential threat to homes and private land on the east and west sides. The public is always advised to prepare for a worse case scenario.
Residents should be prepared for smoky or hazy conditions in towns or on road ways. The fire will continue to grow on its own due to hot, dry weather and dry soil conditions.
The terrain is steep, rocky and remote making access to the fire extremely challenging.
Because of the active fire behavior, the following trails are closed until further notice:
The Massanutten National Recreation (#408) from Shawl Gap to Veach Gap. The Tuscarora Trail (#405.1) is closed from Shawl Gap to Panhandle Road (SR 613).
Sherman Gap (#403) and Veach Gap (#484) Trails are also closed. The Little Crease Trail Shelter is also closed to all public use.
The number one priority is public and firefighter safety.
Please use caution with all campfires. Be advised that fireworks are prohibited on national forest lands.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	Monday June 25th, 2012 approx. 01:30 PM
Location	George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Lee Ranger District: Massanutten Mountain
Incident Commander	Oscar Montijo/ Jay Collet

Current Situation

Total Personnel	218
Size	890 acres
Percent Contained	30%
Fuels Involved	Predominately hardwood with some areas of pine and understory brush.
Fire Behavior	Backing and flanking during the burn out operation. Fire continues to burn into the deep duff layer on the dryer ridges.
Significant Events	Fire continues to spread east and south along the ridge tops. Began aerial burnout operation on the east side.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Plans for Monday 7/2/12: Firefighters will continue to construct, hold and inprove control lines with bulldozers and hand tools. Assess opportunities to burn out as needed. Complete burn out operations on the east side of the fire. Helicopters will drop water to slow down the fire spread, bring supplies to firefighters and provide aerial ignition for burnout. The public can expect to see smoke on Monday as the fire continues to spread toward control lines and burn out operations are used to burn remaining fuels on the west side. Fire crews will be on the fire Sunday night.
Growth Potential	There is medium growth potential due to heavy, dry fuels, the steep rugged terrain, difficult access and weather conditions.
Terrain Difficulty	Terrain is extremely steep, rocky and rugged making access to the fire challenging for firefighters.
Remarks	Residents should be prepared for smoky or hazy conditions in towns and on roadways. Please use caution with all campfires. Be advised that fireworks are prohibited on national forest lands. Homeowners are encouraged to visit www.firewise.org for information on how to make their homes more defensible from wildfires. #1 priority is public and firefighter safety. The fire received 0.2 inches of rain on Friday night from a line of severe thunderstorms that moved through the area last night. There are numerous power outages and trees down in the vicinity of the fire and the ICP.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	17 mph NW
Temperature	94 degrees
Humidity	29%

Incident Management has set up an email account for communication with thehttp://twitter.com/ShenandoahNPS.www.inciweb.gov, search Neighbor Mountain Fire

Wish we could do more

Wildfires Continue to burn in Virginia

One can NOT compare the fires that are currently burning in Virginia with those out West. Yes all wildfires are dangerous and any size fire can destroy someones home, injue firefighters and as we see from Colorado can even kill.
Our hearts and prayers go out to all those being impacted by wildfires out west while also doing all we can right here "at home in Virginia".

Two wildfires in western Virginia on Thursday worried some residents when the scent of smoke drifted as far as the District.

According to officials, the wildfires are both burning on federal land, one in the Shenandoah National Park and the other in George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. Trails in both parks were closed because of the fire.

By 6 p.m. Thursday, the Point 2 Wildfire in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests was about 353 acres, and only 5 percent contained, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture Forest Service. It is located on Massanutten Mountain between Sherman Gap and Veach Gap, spanning both Shenandoah and Warren Counties. It was first detected on Monday.

Trails were also closed in the Shenandoah National Park for the Neighbor Mountain Fire.

Agreat story and video can be found at

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/US-Forest-Service-Fights-Fire-on-Massanutten-Mountain-in-Virginia-160759645.html

Cautioned urged for July 4th fireworks

The lack of rainfall especially in South-central Virginia is raising concerns that the use of fireworks during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday could spark fires in tinder-dry fields and woods.

Virginia Department of Forestry officials indicate that it's not just cities and towns' pyrotechnic shows that pose a threat. He says small fireworks, cookouts and bonfires that are popular during the holiday could start fires in the dry conditions that would spread rapidly.

While the dry conditions concern fire officials there are no immediate plans to ban fireworks.

The agency is encouraging people planning holiday celebrations to use fireworks safely. Spokesman Gregg O’Donnell says the wildfire potential exists in areas where consecutive days of hot temperatures have dried out vegetation.

“It has been awhile since our last beneficial rainfall in many areas, and it is slowly drying out,” said John Miller, Virginia Department of Forestry’s Director of Resource Protection. “We want everyone to be safe and legal while using fireworks, or better yet leave the fireworks to professionals.”

The Department of Forestry recommends following these safety tips:

• Buy from reliable fireworks sellers only use those that are legal for use in Virginia and your locality.
• To detonate fireworks, find a flat surface, away from buildings, dry leaves and grass.
• Have water, a rake and shovel on hand in case of a fire.
• Insist on adult supervision when buying or setting off fireworks.
• Read and follow label directions, warnings and instructions.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Light only one firework at a time.
• Never try to re-Iight fireworks that have not detonated.
• Never give fireworks to small children; even sparklers can cause serious burns.
• Keep all pets especially dogs away from any fireworks.

Fred X. Turck Assistant Director Resource Protection Division Firewise, Prescribed Fire, Prevention and Education

For more info and some prevention material (coloring sheets and mini posters) visit

http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/fireworks.shtml

It's Smokey Bear Time

The recent forest fires in Virginia are a Reminder to some and a wake-up call to others.

The mild winter with very little precipitation and the dry spring we are having, coupled with the windy conditions of late, are a recipe for a bad forest and wildfire season.

Places in Virginia that would typically be out of fire season are holding on to the last (hopefully) gasp of Spring Fire season.  It doesn’t take much to ignite the dry grass and low-lying scrubs in underbrush. Last spring and summer, we were worrying about everything washing away, and now we have to worry about things going up in smoke. The landscape has been drying out for several months, and without a significant amount of rain, conditions are only going to get worse. Caution and, most of all, common sense will be the watchwords in the outdoors.

In an average year there are approximately 1,200 wildfires in Virginia. Of those, more than 90 percent are caused by people.

In addition to those fires started deliberately by arsonists, some of the most common causes include burning leaves and debris, unattended campfires , sparks from equipment and vehicles,  discarded cigarettes and children playing with matches.

So here are some of the things you can do to help cut down on the chances of accidently starting a wildfire.
• One of the first and most important things you can do is educate children on the dangers of matches or lighters. Needless to say, you should always keep these devices and other combustibles out of the reach of children. It is also important that children know not to touch lighters and matches, and if they come upon them, to alert an adult.

• For those of you who still smoke you should do so in a safe manner. Use the ashtray in your vehicle, and when in the outdoors, wet your used cigarette, pipe ashes or cigar before discarding. If no water is available, crush it with your shoe and make sure it is completely out. Never just throw a cigarette out the window of your vehicle.

• Another common cause of wildfires is debris burning that gets “out of control”. Please before lighting that match make sure it is legal to be burning, many local and state laws are in place that prohibit or limit open air burning at various times of the year. Currently we are still in what is referred to as the 4 PM Law time period. It is illegal to have any open air fire within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass before 4 PM.  Several localities currently have restrictions in place so it is recommended that you check with your local Virginia Department of Forestry or Law enforcement agency.

• The careless use of a campfire is yet another of the causes of wildfires. However, there are several things you can do to keep a campfire from turning into a disaster. First and foremost is to always check to see if there is a fire ban in the area you are camping. Even if there is no fire ban, there are some simple rules you should follow when building a fire when camping, fishing or partaking in any other outdoor activity. First, always clear the area around your fire for at least 10 feet, so it is free of debris and any material that might ignite from a stray spark. Always dig a pit for your fire and or ring it with rocks to isolate the fire from the surrounding area. Always keep a bucket of water and shovel close to the fire to quickly put out any problems. It is also a good practice to keep a fire extinguisher in your vehicle or camper, and keep it handy around a campfire. You should also choose hard woods that burn cleanly and don’t throw a lot of sparks. Finally, NEVER leave your fire unattended. Not only is this against the law but is is very dangerous. When you go to sleep or are leaving your fire make sure it is completely out, “Dead Out”, pour water on the ashes of your fire and stir them with the shovel or rake and pour more water on them. Do this over and over until there is no smoke or heat left.

A charred landscape is one of the most depressing scenes in the outdoors, so if you will be camping, fishing or participating in any other outdoor activity this spring and summer, please follow Smokey Bear’s message Always Be Careful With Fire. Remember Only You Can Prevent a Wildfire.

What else can you do to help?

If you live in or near a wooded area, the Virginia Firewise program can help protect your home and community from wildfires. The Firewise program offers simple ways community members can work together to prevent their properties from becoming fuel for a wildfire. Residents can reduce the risk of their home’s ignition with simple changes to their homes and immediate surroundings. For example, clearing a space around your home can reduce wildfire threat. Reduce surrounding vegetation and prune large trees. Even something as simple as cleaning gutters and eaves of leaves and debris can prevent an ember from igniting a home.

This year, we hope to keep wildfires in Virginia to a minimum by enlisting more help from the public. Using the simple tips above can help us prevent a wildfire from becoming catastrophic.

REMEMBER ........

www.virginiawildfireprevention.com

www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/index-prev-ed.shtml

www.firewisevirginia.org

www.smokeybear.com

THANKS for doing your part and not letting a wildfire start.

Many of our recent wildfires have been very suspicious in nature, in my next blog, pending any significant wildfire activity, I will discuss the problem of woods arson, what can be done and how you can help.