While they can happen any time of the year, most of the wildfires that claim Virginia occur during the spring and fall, when the Old Dominion experiences a peak in wildfire events. Rising temperatures in the spring can start and spread fires.
Meanwhile, in the fall, warmer temperatures and breezy days combine with fallen leaves and other vegetation as fuel, thereby increasing the chances of a wildfire, especially in forests in Virginia’s western mountains and grasslands. The spring fire season runs from February 15 to April 30, while the fall fire season begins on October 15 and ends on November 30.
Virginia faces several natural hazards, including wildfires. The state’s Department of Forestry estimates that approximately 700 wildfire incidents burn around 9,500 acres (more than 3,800 hectares) and damage or destroy more than 60 homes and other structures in a typical year.
The state has enacted measures like its 4 PM Burning Law, which aims to limit outdoor burning in the spring, to prevent wildfires. It’s vital for residents to follow this and any burn laws, bans, or restrictions in your city or county to help lessen fire incidents, but it’s also important to know what causes wildfires in Virginia so as to avoid igniting one in the first place.
- No. 1 Cause of Virginia Wildfires: Escaped Embers from Debris Burning
In the U.S., humans cause nearly 85% of wildland fires. It’s the same in Virginia. Michael Downey, assistant director for wildfire mitigation and prevention at the Virginia Department of Forestry, told Virginia Mercury, “80 to 90% of fires are caused by humans.”
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) states that these human-caused fires are typically the result of unattended campfires, debris burning, equipment use and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes, and intentional acts of arson.
In the Mother of States, escaped debris burning, or the escape of embers from debris burning, in particular, is the leading cause of wildfire in the state, as pinpointed by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Arson or Intentionally Ignited Wildfires
The second most frequent cause of wildfires in the Old Dominion is intentional ignition, i.e., intentionally set fires, incendiary fires, or arson. In other words, starting wildfires on purpose. While the top cause of Virginia wildfires has an element of unintentionality, this one is more criminal.
Interestingly, arson is common in the eastern regions of the Forest Service, representing 39%, compared with their western counterparts, which only handled 3% arson-ignited fires on federal lands, based on 2000 to 2008 data.
Table 1. Average Annual Fires and Percent by Cause for 2000-2008 Western and Eastern Regions of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Regions 1-6 and 10, and Regions 8 and 9, Respectively)
| Forest Service Statistical Cause | Western Forest Service Regions (1-6, 10) | Eastern Forest Service Regions (8 and 9) | ||
| Average annual fires | Percent by cause | Average annual fires | Percent by cause | |
| Lightning | 5,255 | 65 | 193 | 11 |
| Campfire | 1,116 | 14 | 116 | 7 |
| Smoking | 152 | 2 | 27 | 2 |
| Debris Burning | 191 | 2 | 278 | 17 |
| Arson | 220 | 3 | 651 | 39 |
| Equipment Use | 258 | 3 | 62 | 4 |
| Railroad | 33 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Children (12 years old or younger) | 65 | 1 | 21 | 1 |
| Miscellaneous (and unknown) | 841 | 10 | 311 | 18 |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and National Interagency Fire Management Integrated Database
Lightning-Ignited Wildfires
Another cause of wildfires in the Mother of States is lighting. According to the National Park Service, most fires are started by “unusually long-lasting hot lightning bolts.” While hot lightning carries currents with less voltage, they tend to occur longer than cold lightning, which carries intense electrical current but only occurs for a relatively short duration.
While lightning-ignited wildfires account for only 11% of fires in the eastern Forest Service regions (see Table 1), it’s still worthwhile to discuss here because of the risk of holdover fires.
Holdover Fires
A holdover fire is basically a wildfire that continues to burn slowly underground for an extended period before re-emerging. Because holdover fires typically occur when the original surface flames appear to have already been extinguished like someone back from the dead, it is also known as a zombie fire.
“Holdover fires occur when combusting or smoldering material from a previous fire event or ignition isn’t fully extinguished,” Marc Mayes, a senior scientist in ecosystems and remote sensing who studies wildfire hazard mitigation in Ventura County, told KCLU.
Because of this, it can be difficult to find holdover fires. But, they continue to smolder as long as they have oxygen and fuel. Thus, you will usually find holdover fires in a pocket of aerated underground space waiting for its time to re-emerge to the surface.
Preventing Human-Caused Wildfires in Virginia
“Nine out of ten wildfires are caused by humans,” the Virginia Department of Fire writes on its website. “That means nine out of ten wildfires can be prevented.”
As such, the Virginia Department of Forestry is calling on all residents to keep the following in mind when burning yard debris.
Before burning yard debris:
- Explore alternative ways to dispose of debris.
- Check with your local fire department, the Virginia Department of Forestry, or the Air Protection Authority (Virginia Department of Environmental Quality) for any burning restrictions and if a permit is required.
- Monitor the local weather forecast, and never burn on dry, windy days.
- Virginia prohibits open burning of tires, any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors, or other hazardous materials, so burn only yard debris.
When burning yard debris:
- Ensure that equipment, such as lawn mowers and chainsaws, are out of reach of sparks.
- Use a burn barrel and clear at least a 15-foot radius around it. If you don’t have a burn barrel, keep your burn pile small and clear at least a 25-foot radius around it. Choose a burn area with no tree branches or power lines above it, and wet down the surrounding area before, during, and after the burn.
- Ensure to have water and fire extinguishing tools, such as a shovel and dirt or sand, on site always.
- Virginia law requires continual monitoring of the fire when debris burning, so stay with the fire until it is completely out.
- When you’re done with debris burning, ensure to extinguish the fire completely. Make sure to recheck the fire, as burn piles can retain heat for several weeks when the weather warms and the winds begin to blow.
- Call 911 immediately if your fire escapes or gets out of control.
“If you choose to burn, please do so responsibly,” John Miller, chief of fire and emergency response at the Virginia Department of Forestry, told 29News WVIR. “It only takes one spark or ember to start a wildfire.”