The Understory – Dec. 11
December 11, 2024 8:13 am
Fire Activity Continues Into December
While Virginia’s official fall fire season (Oct. 15 – Nov. 30) has ended, continued dry and windy conditions have brought us increased fire activity well into December.
Over the last week, DOF suppressed 47 wildfires that burned 171 acres, making it firefighters’ third-busiest week of 2024 by suppressed wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), with support from DOF and many local fire departments, is currently wrapping up containment of the nearly 2,000-acre Big Levels Fire on the George Washington Jefferson National Forest in Augusta County. For updates on this fire, please visit the USFS website.
This goes to show wildfires can start anytime, especially when conditions are dry and windy. The number one cause of wildfires in Virginia is escaped debris burning. Keep your family and community safe this holiday season by checking the weather before burning, remaining with your fire and “extinguishing it cold.” If a fire escapes your control, call 911. Spring fire season isn’t all that far away, running from Feb. 15 – April 30.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
‘Tis the Season…for a Virginia-Grown Christmas Tree
Did you know Virginia has more than 480 Christmas tree farms that grow approximately 475,000 Christmas trees each year? All those trees generate nearly $25 million annually for the Commonwealth’s economy. As with any local purchase, supporting Virginia Christmas tree farms supports local communities and farmers, some of whom were hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
Need more reasons to celebrate with a real, locally-grown Christmas tree? Real Christmas trees are renewable resources that provide numerous benefits throughout their lifecycle. While the fir, pine, cypress and spruce trees grow, they clean our air and water, absorb carbon and provide shelter for wildlife. Real trees also create a cozy presence in your home by “bringing the outdoors indoors” (and they smell amazing!).
When you’re done with your real Christmas tree, it can be recycled for mulch or used as wildlife habitat as it breaks down (in as little as six months). Fake trees are often imported and sit in landfills for hundreds of years.
Visit a local Christmas tree farm this holiday season to create lasting memories and support local farmers: VirginiaChristmasTrees.org.
DOF Receives $2.2 Million from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation
Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced DOF will receive more than $2.2 million in grant funding to conserve nearly 3,875 acres of land. The funding, which comes from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, enables DOF to permanently protect high-value forestland and wetlands, including habitat for several endangered species.
“With the addition of these new projects, DOF’s easement portfolio will protect more than 103,000 acres in the Commonwealth,” said DOF Office of Working Lands Preservation Program Manager Amanda Scheps. “Easements keep land in its natural state while still allowing landowners to own and use their land for forest management, agriculture and recreation.”
Learn more about forestland conservation on DOF’s website.
Tags: The Understory
Category: Education, Public Information