Fire Department: Fire Danger High

The weather forecast for today continues calling for low humidity of 20 to 30 percent and dry conditions with high winds of 15 miles per hour and gusts up to 25 mph and the combination of these effects will enhance the threat for rapid spread of outside fires. The Fire Marshal’s Office would like to make the community aware of the high fire danger and recommend making sure that grills, recreational or campfires are supervised during use and that they are completely extinguished. 

In addition, fires often occur in landscapes as the result of smoking materials such as cigarettes, cigars and lighted matches discarded into mulch laden landscapes and flower beds by individuals entering a building or home. Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue recommends providing an area for individuals to properly extinguish and safely discard smoking materials prior to entering your home and/or business. 

Due to high winds and wind gusts, the Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to secure all outdoor furniture, trash receptacles, cooking grills, and other freestanding items that may become air born causing injury and damage if not properly secured. 

As a reminder, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Commonwealth’s 4 p.m. burn law went into effect. The law remains in effect until Saturday, April 30. The law is a restriction on open air burning that limits such burning to between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight if your fire is within 300 foot. 

Most outside burn permits are limited to commercial or agriculture operations and as part of the process a comprehensive review of the operation are conducted before a permit will be approved and issued. To obtain more information or an application for a burn permit please contact 703-792-6360 or visit our website at www.pwcgov.org/fire, click on Fire Marshal’s Office and click on “Burning Regulations.”