Woods Arson Seems To Be On The Increase YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

The face of ARSON has changed over time from the Fire Wolf to GUBRIF and the Fire Bug which looked a lot like a dragon. What does the face of an arsonist look like today?  The face of an arsonist looks a lot like you and me it could be someone in your neighborhood, someone you see in the local grocery store. It could be a man, a woman, a teenager or a senior citizen.

Arson is regarded as one of the easiest crimes to perpetrate and the most challenging to identify and verify.  Even though the challenges are many each and every one of us has a responsibility to help put a stop to this senseless crime. And it IS A CRIME no matter who perpetrates it. It is also NOT a victimless Crime; it can have very serious consequences and can even be deadly!

Investigating the origin and cause of a wildfire to determine if it is a case of arson  requires the work of skilled fire and arson investigators sifting through ash and debris to determine if a fire was in fact arson. We can help by reporting ANY suspicious activity and by calling the authorities IMMEDIATELY if you see a wildfire in the area where Arson has been the suspected cause of a wildfire. Many arsonists tend to “work” in a  specific locality and rarely travel great distances away from where they work or travel to on a regular basis.

SMOKEY BEAR, FIREFIGHTERS AND YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!

Arson Rewards offered and Wildfire Updates, Almost 30,000 acres in VA have burned in last 10 days

Arson Suspected As Cause of Page County and Bath County Wildfires, $2,000 Reward Offered

Wildland fire investigators suspect that the 4,000-acre Shipwreck Fire burning in Page County was ignited by one or more arsonists as was the 125 acre Stuart Fire in Patrick County.   
“The lives and property of residents and firefighters are directly threatened by these suspicious fires,” said John Miller, director of resource protection for the Virginia Department of Forestry.  “When a wildfire is intentionally set, it endangers lives and can cause unbelievable destruction to land, trees and homes,” Miller said.  “In addition, when firefighters are working an arson fire, they and their equipment are not available to suppress other wildland fires.  This depletion of resources puts even more people and their property at risk.”
The Virginia Department of Forestry needs citizens to be vigilant in the fight against arson.  If you see something suspicious, call 911 or in Page County you can call the Page County Crime Solvers Number at 540-743-3272. Call immediately day or night the quicker law enforcement officers can respond the greater the chance to be successful.  Your help may be worth up to $2,000 – the reward offered for information that leads to the conviction of an arsonist.
The lack of rain, low humidity, high winds and mountainous terrain helped the fire spread quickly, and the additional fire starts pose great danger to anyone or anything in their path.
Woods arson is the common term for deliberately burning forests, grasslands or brush without the owner’s permission. The VDOF and other law enforcement officials are concerned with the number and frequency of these dangerous, destructive and senseless criminal acts. Woods arson is a felony in Virginia and, when convicted, the guilty person could serve up to five years in prison, pay a fine of $2,500 and be liable for the cost of suppressing the fire.
If you see any fire where firefighters have not yet arrived on the scene, make note of the following:

• Location and time of the fire
• Description of persons observed in the area
• Description of any vehicles observed and the license plate if possible
• Any other pertinent information

"We need the public's help in the continuing investigation of the cause of these suspicious fires,”. Your information may be just the piece of the puzzle that helps us put an end to potentially deadly and criminal acts.” 

Summary:  

                        Elevated fire weather conditions continue across Virginia. Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) reports 33 fires burned approximately 102 acres on private land. Fifty-one homes/structures were protected and 1 home/structure was damaged from Friday, 13 April, through Sunday, 15 April. Large wildfires on private property and National Forest land:

·         Easter Complex (6 fires managed by U.S. Forest Service Incident Management Team the “Blue Team”)

o   Page County, Shipwreck Fire: acreage burned – 4,000; 100% contained

o   Alleghany/Craig Counties, Barbours Creek Fire: acreage burned – 4,783; 40% contained

o   Shenandoah County, Wolf Gap Fire: acreage burned – 755; 95% contained

o   Alleghany/Rockbridge Counties, Rich Hole Fire: acreage burned – 12,131; 30% containment

o   Alleghany County, Alleghany Tunnel Fire: acreage burned – 11,381; 85% contained

o   Bath County, Porter Mills Fire: acreage burned – 879; 95% contained (assumed management on 15 April)

The following Counties have notified us that they have implemented county wide bans on all open burning that are over and above the stats 4PM burn law. PLEASE check with your county if you are planning any outdoor activity that may involve open burning.

Botetourt County

King George County

Caroline County

Bath County and

Northampton County.

 In addition I know that Douthat State Park has also enacted restrictions on within the boundary of the park that prohibit campfires and the use of any outdoor fires.

From the Park’s web site….Due to extreme fire conditions there is a burn ban within the park. All open fires and charcoal fires are prohibited at this time. Propane is permissible.

Texas battles history making wildfires

More wild fires erupt in Texas

Six new fires erupted in Texas on Monday while more out-of-state firefighting reinforcements were dispatched to try to gain control in a state that has lost nearly 600,000 acres to wild fires since February 22.

In the past week alone, fires have burned 309,000 acres, from the Panhandle and high plains in the northwest to the pine woods in the east and the dry brushlands of the border.

That's not counting fires volunteer fire departments have put out, said Texas Forest Service spokesman Alan Craft.

'Swenson Fire' now largest in the U.S.

71,000-acre fire scorches3 counties, now largest in U.S.

Skies Aflame photos by Ayena

Taken between the towns of Alpine, Texas and Ft. Davis Texas during the biggest fire to ever hit the Big Bend Area.

Check out a good story from the Huffington Post including a vido at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/11/texas-wildfires-2011-video_n_847776.html

photo credits to Ayena (Flickr), the AP and FOX newsfrom posts to the web.

And lets keep our friends in Pulaski VA and in other locations that have been recently impacted by  natural disasters as they struggle to recover.
A few of the wildfires in Texas can be considered a natural disaster HOWEVER many, all to many are the result of human carelessness, accidents or ARSON.

Smokey Bear’s words ‘Only You Can Prevent Wildfires’ seems particularly important
to all citizens in Texas during this very dangerous conditions.

 

Check out

http://www.smokeybear.com/wildfires.asp

 

and

http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/article.aspx?id=10032

And learn more about how ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES.

Thanks

Wildfires increasing in numbers, size and complexity

ATLANTA (AP) — Officials are concerned wind from approaching storms could drive embers from three southeastern Georgia wildfires into new areas. A blaze in Clinch County has burned 16,000 acres, while another in Bacon and Ware counties has consumed around 13,600 acres. A smaller fire in Long County has burned about 4,000 acres and three homes.

Officials find it’s hard to just let wildfires burn

By Bruce Finley  |  The Denver Post

For years, federal land managers have aimed at letting wildfires burn to boost forest health — and save taxpayers some of the billions the government spends dousing nearly every blaze.

“We’re looking for opportunities to let fire play its natural role in the landscape,” regional U.S. Forest Service chief Rick Cables said last week.

But Colorado’s growing population and energy industry near forests, combined with surging numbers of wildfires, is making a let-it-burn approach increasingly difficult.

Twenty-seven wildfires have threatened the northern Front Range suburbs this month, nine times the 15-year March average of three.

Rather than try to let some wildfires burn to stimulate forests and grasslands, federal officials have moved into traditional suppression, mobilizing ground crews early and pushing to preposition slurry bombers on runways.

Although this article is from Colorado this is the situation all across the US.

I recently attended a meeting and heard a communications expert with the NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) say that everyone needs to recognize that there are only 2 types of fires, a prescribed fire or a wildfire, period. We should NOT try and turn a wildfire into a prescribed fire and if a prescribed fire threatens to get beyond planned control lines or its behavior is exceeding planned objectives or people and homes are threatened it should be considered a wildfire and treated as such and suppressed. Everyone recognizes that even the worst of wildfires MAY HAVE some environmental benefits but we can no longer send mixed messages especially as the flames, smoke and embers are in the air.

A woods fire seen from the Spring Hill Plantation subdivision in North Carolina. Firefighters battled the blaze near Loblolly Avenue in Little River on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/03/25/2061206/forestry-commission-nc-man-cited.html#ixzz1HnHNWgJl

Fires spread across Baxter County

"Arkansas Forestry Commission crews are working to contain six wildfires, including two in Madison County, one in Lafayette County, two in Columbia County and one in Ashley County," said commission spokeswoman Christina Fowler.

"Acreage estimates will not be available until tomorrow afternoon," Fowler said. "There have been no reports of structures damaged or injuries."

Fanned by strong winds, a fire consumes an outbuilding Wednesday on Baxter County Road 69. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, but the outbuilding was a complete loss. Firefighters were kept busy for several hours as high winds whipped the fire sending embers across CR 69 and igniting a grass fire. / Bulletin Photo by Kevin Pieper

Officials suspect wildfires are arson

LOXLEY, Alabama (WALA) - The Alabama Forestry Commission wants to know who is setting wildfires in south Baldwin County.

Officials said 14 fires have been set in the past eight days. They have reason to believe someone is responsible, simply because of the sheer number of fires in a short period of time and also because they were set in the middle of nowhere.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/baldwin_county/officials-suspect-wildfires-are-arson

Last week the Today Show and Fox News among others ran a story out of a research facility based in Richburg , SC. This facility is owned by the Institute for Business and Home Safety and they started an ember storm which then ignited a home that was designed with various construction materials. This was to teach that often it is the embers that ignite the home, not the "wall of flames" and that the homeowner can do several things to reduce the chance of their home igniting - they can be Firewise!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42266384#42246583

It might be due to the story at the link above or not? But there sure seems to be more mentioning of “Embers” in news stories recently??

PLEASE do your part and dont let a wildfire start. If you live in an area that is experencing wildfires or it is just a bit to dry and windy DO NOT BURN anything PLEASE WAIT till you get some rain and forestry officials indicate it is safe to have outdoor burning.

THANKS

PS thought you might find this interesting.

Here in the east and for the most part the entire mainland US fires are either started by something human in cause or by lightning. Lightning is the only non-human cause of wildfires EXCEPT in places like Hawaii.

This picture is of a remote wildfire touched off by the eruption of the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, which has burned some 2,000 acres of national park land.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-usreport-us-hawaii-tre72m5f1-20110323,0,1967087.story

Wildfires continue ... How Can You Help?

Fire starts are up with the 4th day without rain here in VA. Conditions are NOT anywhere near where they were on 2/19 but firefighters and citizens should remain vigilant. Another shot of rain is hopefully on its way by Sunday.

Wildfires in TX and FL continue and now Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are very active.

 

Ga. wildfire blamed on arsonist

Morris News Service

Thursday, March 3, 2011 6:14 AM

NAHUNTA, Ga.  - A reward up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever set a wildfire that has burned about 2,250 acres in Brantley County since Monday.
State forest rangers expected to have the fire, which spread quickly after being started near Georgia 121 south of Hoboken, fully contained by Wednesday evening, said Frank Sorrells, district manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission regional office in Waycross.


Wildfire activity increases in Alabama

The Alabama Forestry Commission says lower humidity, warm temeratures and gusty winds are combining to increase wildfire danger.

Warnings against outdoor burning continue in SC

State forestry officials have lifted a red flag alert for 14 counties in South Carolina’s northeastern corner but are still warning against outdoor burning while high winds and low humidity persist.



Debris burning remains one of the top causes of wildfires in Virginia, below are 2 mini posters that bring the attention to this and also provide safety tips and alternatives. PLEASE remember the state's 4 PM Law which is in effect. You can NOT have any outdoor fire within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass BEFORE  4 PM. Also you MUST check with your locality as many local restrictions are also in place.
And please JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN LEAGELY BURN DON"T especially when the winds are up and the air is so dry.

THANKS

This is the 1st of 2 new posts today Wildfire Danger High

High threat for wildfires ahead

There is a high threat of wildfires over the next few days.

Weather conditions make it favorable for wildfires because of higher temperatures, sustained winds, wind gusts, and low relative humidity.

The most significant threat is from now through Saturday, as there is no rain in the forecast until Tuesday, February 22.

Burning leaves, yard waste, and trash continues to be the major cause of wildfires in Virginia.

"Keep your cigarettes in an ash tray where they belong, or better yet quit. If you are intending to have any kind of burn outside, make sure it's appropriate and with the state $ Pm Law and local restrictions.

Confused about when you can burn when the 4

 PM Law is in effect? Just remember NOT

 BEFORE 4!

The state burning ban prevents anyone from starting fires within 300 feet of woods, brush or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials.

In addition to criminal penalties, those convicted of burning during the ban can be held liable for repaying the costs of fighting the fire.

People can burn yard debris from 4 p.m. to midnight because that's when winds tend to die down, BUT are still responsible for suppression costs and any damages should your “legal” fire escape and turn into a wildfire!.

A violation of the burning law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition, anyone who allows a fire to escape is liable for the cost of fighting the fire as well as any damage caused to other people's property.

According to the forestry department, while the risk of wildfires is heightened at this time of year by high winds and plenty of dry fuel in forests and brushlands, the risk generally eases after 4 p.m. as wind speeds decrease and humidity increases.

On average, Virginia sees 1,449 wildfires each year, burning 8,338 acres, according to the forestry department. The all-time high number of fires was 3,697 in 1941; 1930 saw the most acreage burned, 333,023 acres.

Even with the winter snows and rain most of Virginia is considered in moderate drought conditions.

Three juveniles arrested in connection with Chesterfield fire

CHESTERFIELD, Va. --

Chesterfield Police arrested three juveniles this evening in connection with a large brush fire that continues to be a threat in the southern section of the county. They were released to their parents.

Firefighters will remain on the scene of the 20-acre fire throughout the night.

The fire began about 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Qualla Road area northwest of Interstate 288 near Family Lane and Alberta Road.  Investigators believe a lighter used by the youths started the blaze.

PLEASE HELP SMOKEY  95% of all wildfires CAN be prevented and ONLY YOU CAN HELP !!

Spring Wildfire Season ..... Vigilance a lesson to be learned.

Below is a news release referencing Virginia's upcomming Spring Wildfire Season. With all the recent snows and rain wildfires are NOT on many of your minds, But PLEASE be vigilant, learn what you can do to prevent a wildfire from starting, learn when and how you can safely burn and learn how you can help protect your home and property from wildfires. 
Check Out the following sites ....
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/
http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/firewise-index.htm
http://www.smokeybear.com/
http://www.firewise.org/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fireprevention/

Outdoor Fires Unlawful Before 4 p.m.

The Commonwealth’s 4 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect Feb. 15th – the start of spring fire season in Virginia. The law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day until April 30th if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials.

“This law is one of the most effective tools we have in the prevention of wildfires,” said John Miller, director of resource protection at the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF). “Each late winter and early spring, downed trees, branches and leaves become ‘forest fuels’ that increase the danger of a forest fire. By adhering to the law and not burning before 4 p.m., people are less likely to start a fire that threatens them, their property and the forests of Virginia.”

A violation of this law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition to the criminal violation, those who allow a fire to escape are liable for the cost of suppressing the fire as well as any damage caused to others’ property.

In 2010, there were 897 wildfires that burned 8,485 acres of forestland in the Commonwealth. This was a seven percent increase in the number of wildland fires compared to the number (837) of fires in 2009. Similarly, the amount of acreage burned increased 13 percent when compared to 7,494 acres that burned in 2009.

Miller said, “At this time, the long-range forecasts are for a normal to slightly drier spring, with normal to slightly above normal temperatures. We can generally count on a couple of passing dry cold fronts in the spring that bring strong winds on the heels of zero precipitation. Under these weather conditions, and drought conditions on the ground, we could potentially see increased fire risk.”

To learn more about how to protect yourself and your property, visit www.dof.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.

With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.

I went back into the archives and pulled several "headlines" from springtime fires here in Virginia, from 1988 to 2005. Many of these spring fires followed a wet or so called normal winter. Things dry out and change rather quickly in the spring.

1988…. “Yesterday we had 18 fires that burned 158 acres," said John Graff, chief of fire management at the department's headquarters in Charlottesville. "We had four more this morning that burned 34 acres."

1995    A 1,200-acre fire that burned through dry loblolly and white pine forests near Norwood in southern Nelson County awed veteran firefighters with its intensity.
In Page County, a 200-acre fire brought under control Tuesday near Stanley may have led to another fire that burned 450 acres one-quarter mile away before it was contained late yesterday. Flames leapt as high as 200 feet. The fire could be seen for miles as it crept in a wide, smoky sweep up Dovell Mountain.
A third forest fire broke out in Clarke County about 3 p.m. yesterday when a house burned down and set off wildfires, said Dusty McIntosh of the Front Royal Fire Department. Fred Burlingame, chief forest warden for Frederick and Clarke counties, set a backfire that stopped the fire from sweeping into a dozen woodland homes. The fire burned about 20 acres.

1995… Fires pushed by strong winds blackened more than 1,100 acres of dead, dry forest in western Virginia yesterday, threatening houses and presaging what officials fear will be a long fire season.

1997    FOREST FIRE DANGER LINGERS DESPITE RAINY WEATHER

Limbs felled by ice storms in 1994 and 1995 could provide fuel for forest fires, especially if Virginia gets a prolonged dry spell or people burning trash become careless, Forestry Department spokesman Lou Southard said.

Southard said a state law restricting trash burning was changed this year in hopes of cutting down on forest fires. The law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. between Feb. 15 and April 30. Before it was changed by the General Assembly, the restriction was in effect from March 1 to May 15.

"On a 20-year average, we found there were 60 percent more fires and 75 percent more acres burned in February than in May," Southard said. He said it is better to burn trash in the evening because humidity generally is higher and winds calmer.

1998    FIRE BURNS ON AFTON MOUNTAIN

A spectacular forest fire whipped up the west side of Afton Mountain yesterday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of about 15 homes, forest officials said.
The blaze began about 3:30 p.m. at the base of the mountain near a subdivision in Augusta County and had burned between 75 and 100 acres by nightfall. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No one was injured.

1999….. Fires cropped up from the Abingdon area in the state's southwest to forests near the Quantico Marine Corps base within 50 miles of Washington, said Lou Southard, fire chief for the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The most troubling fire was in Fauquier County, where about 1,000 acres near the sprawling Marine base burned before the blaze was controlled last night. Nineteen families were evacuated as the fire raced across open fields and tree lines, Sheriff Joe Higgs said. About 200 firefighters from five counties battled the blaze, some of whom stayed on the scene overnight to make sure the fire did not re- ignite, Higgs said.

2000   FOREST FIRE SEASON OFF TO AN EARLY START

APPALACHIA - State Department of Forestry crews contained a series of forest fires in southwest Virginia in an early start to the annual forest fire season.

Up to a dozen fires have broken out each day since last weekend and have consumed a total of 2,025 acres, said Chuck Hutsell, acting regional forester.

The largest of the fires, involving 700 acres in Buchanan County, was believed to be arson, Mr. Hutsell said yesterday.

2005     Virginia Department of Forestry officials are using a helicopter to battle a 150-acre forest fire in Franklin County today.

Franklin County Public Safety Director Chris Slemp said the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon on Turkey Cock Mountain in the Snow Creek area of the county. Officials believe lightning might have sparked the blaze because a storm rolled through that area about an hour before a citizen reported seeing smoke about 4:30 p.m.

The fire is not expected to threaten any homes, Slemp said.

It took Franklin County firefighters about 90 minutes to reach the fire because the terrain on the mountain is so rough. At 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, county firefighters were ordered to retreat because the fire was spreading rapidly, Slemp said.

The Virginia Department of Forestry sent a helicopter to drop water on the blaze Wednesday night and this morning. Their firefighters have taken over the fire with assistance from a few Franklin County volunteers, officials said.

Give Thanks AND Help to YOUR Fire Departments and Firefighters

Fighting wildfires takes the work of many many dedicated firefighters and emergency response agencies. The volunteers, the paid departments, the USFS, Park Service and VA Dept of Forestry work side by side and with many other agencies to numerous to mention all trying to protect US our homes and natural resources.

They along with me (Smokey Bear) need YOUR help. Woods ARSON is a crime. A few years ago Kentucky ran a poster that said "Arson it Costs, Cripples and Kills". Arson does cost thousands and thousands of dollars to fight and puts your lives and the lives of the firefighters in danger every time they respond to the call for help.

What can you do?

KEEP AN EYE OUT for ant suspicious activity especially in those areas where past arson suspected fires occured. REPORT any suspecious activity to local authorities. If you see a wildfire CALL 911.

THANKS !!!



i     r    e  s

 Firefighters Battle Three Fires Near Stanley VA 

The Stanley Fire Department and the Virginia Department of Forestry are battling three mountain fires on Alshire Hollow Road east of Stanley.

Arson Likely Cause of Stanley Forest Fire Stanley, Va.

Two Fires Burning in Virginia National Forest

November 23, 2010

Trails are closed in areas of the George Washington National Forest in Page County, Virginia where two forest fires have burned more than 600 acres.

The U.S. Forest Service says a fire at Burners Gap grew over the weekend from 350 acres to about 560 acres. As of Sunday, the fire was 75 percent contained.

A smaller fire about 3 miles northeast at Kennedy Peak is about 75 percent contained. That fire has burned 83 acres.

Joe Lehen with the Virginia Department of Forestry told The Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg that authorities believe humans accidentally started both fires.