Prince William County, Va. — Fire officials in Prince William County have banned all outside burning for Friday due to unusual weather circumstances.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast is calling for low humidity and dry conditions with high winds of 20-30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. The Fire Marshal’s Office would like to alert the community regarding the threat of fire danger, i.e. outside fires that can spread quickly and out of control escalating into multi-alarm incidents threatening woodlands and structures while depleting fire and rescue resources.
These weather conditions are similar to the conditions that arose this time last year in February that produced numerous brush fires. Therefore, the Fire Marshal’s Office is banning all outside fires commencing today, Thursday, February 23rd through Saturday, February 25th.
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 free-standing items that may become air born causing injury and damage if not properly secured.
The weather has been unseasonably mild this winter prompting homeowners to start early spring clean up and removal of large piles of debris such as damaged trees, shrubbery and leaves. Please note that outside burning of debris is prohibited for residential areas and the preferred method of debris removal is to have it chipped or shredded on site and/or transported to the landfill for disposal.
Earlier this month, the fire marshal’s office instituted it’s 4 p.m. burning law that requires all residents to burn brush after 4 p.m. when humidity levels are typically higher.
-Prince William Fire and Rescue Department
Last year, a high winds spawned a rash of wildfire in the Potomac Communities along Interstate 95 and behind shopping centers on Prince William Parkway.
