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2 Virginia has experienced some of - the worst fire weather in recent I years. The commonwealth emerged I from the 1985 fire season after expe; riencing more than 2,400 fires which - burned over 12,700 acres of Virginia - woodland. The loss might have been - worse if it had not been for the Division of Forester’s long commitment : to fire prevention.
Our neighbors in North Carolina - lost in excess of 149,000 acres in more than 6,000 forest fires. Their - neighbor, South Carolina, lost ' 106,000 acres in more than 10,000 forest fires.
The Virginia Division of Forestry each year carefully examines the causes of forest fires in Virginia and throughout the remainder of the south. The Division found that the number of arson fires in Virginia had doubled in 1985, when 18 percent of - forest fires were caused by arson. In one section of the state, 47 percent of all the fires were arson-related.
Trash and debris burning have : always accounted for most of the for' est fires in Virginia. So it was no surprise that 35 percent of the fire reports listed debris burning as the fire cause.
The Division of Forestry has always strictly enforced Virginia’s fire laws. In 1985, a record 694 fire law cases were processed in court, and 13 people were convicted of arson. Arson-related fires are causing increasing concern throughout the south.
Concerned about the increase in arson fires and a continuing debris burning problem, the Virginia Division of Forestry decided to launch a targeted spring fire prevention campaign. This campaign is called the 12 Punch because the first phase will deal with arson and the second phase will deal with debris burning fire causes.
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