ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Over 30 acres of land off of Seminole Trail in Albemarle County has been razed by a brush fire which investigators determined was caused by an open-air burn.
Multiple local fire departments and the Department of Forestry responded to the area off of Seminole Trail and Boulders Road at about 4:11 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, after receiving reports of a brush fire.
Units with Albemarle County’s Department of Fire Rescue arrived at the 3300 block of Forloines Drive within 14 minutes. Units with the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department arrived at Boulders Road. All crews began to search through the heavy smoke for the fire.
A large, fast-moving brush fire was located in the area. Additionally, crews found a barn structure in the 3000 block of Preddy Creek Road that was also involved in the fire.
Several hours were spent putting out the fires and preventing the flames from spreading further, according to fire officials. The barn structure was a total loss, though no one was injured as no one was inside at the time.
A total of 35 acres of land were involved in the fire — half of which was open land and half forest. According to Albemarle fire officials, an improperly extinguished open-air burn was the cause.
“Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) would like to take this time to remind the community that Virginia’s 4 p.m. burning law is in effect through April 30,” said Albemarle fire officials in a press release. “It is critical that those individuals wishing to burn yard debris take every possible precaution to ensure they are compliant with local and state laws before igniting their fire.”
In addition to the statewide burn law, Albemarle bans all commercial burns from Feb. 15 to April 30.
According to Albemarle fire officials, the fire continues to smolder in spots but is considered safely contained and is being actively monitored at the time of reporting.
