Virginia Spring Fire Season Draws to a Close

Spring fire season is coming to an end in Virginia.

The season ends Friday and the state Department of Forestry says the number of wildfires fell 29 percent this year. There were 400 wildfires during the 75-day season this year, down from 563 in 2009.

The agency credits wet weather and the state law that limits outdoor burning to between 4 p.m. and midnight.

The amount of state and private land burned this year declined as well. The Forestry Department says it dropped 42.5 percent to 3,240 acres this year, from 5,635 in 2009.

State Forester Carl Garrison says the reduced number of fires and smaller amount of acreage burned are significant decreases.