The Understory – October 30, 2025
October 30, 2025 1:33 pm
Fall Fire Season is Underway
While leaf-peeping season is one of Virginia’s most beautiful times of year, it also brings conditions that increase the risk of wildfires. As leaves fall and accumulate on the ground, an ample fuel source for wildfires is created. And when you combine this with the dry, windy weather we typically see this time of year, the risk of wildfire grows. This year’s fall fire season arrives as much of Virginia is already in a drought, further raising danger levels.
“From now until Nov. 30, the Virginia Department of Forestry urges you to use best practices when engaging in activities that involve fire, such as burning yard debris, having campfires, or using fire pits,” said Chief of Fire and Emergency Response John Miller. “Human activity is still the number one cause of wildfires. Please help keep your family, neighbors and community safe by taking extra caution this time of year.”
Read more about how you can prevent wildfires in DOF’s news release.
The forest industry employs more than 100,000 Virginians.
Virginia Celebrates Forest Products Week
In recognition of Virginia’s third-largest private industry, Governor Glenn Youngkin proclaimed Oct. 19-25 as Forest Products Week. State officials visited several sites to get a closer look at how our forest resource is transformed into a wide variety of products.
Secretary Lohr (left) and DOF staff admire hardwood flooring at Willow Run Custom Lumber.
Throughout the week, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr joined DOF to tour Willow Run Custom Lumber Inc. in Rockingham County, a logging operation in Dinwiddie and Nottoway Counties managed by logger and Virginia Board of Forestry member Vance Wright, Packaging Corporation of America’s containerboard mill in Lynchburg County, and Ontario Hardwoods Inc. in Charlotte County. See pictures from the week on DOF’s Flickr.
The Riverine Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists gathers acorns for DOF in Richmond.
Tree-mendous Job, Virginia
Thanks to your generous efforts, DOF received a whopping 13 tons of donated acorns, walnuts and chestnuts! A sincere thank you to everyone across the Commonwealth who donated their time and energy to our annual collection campaign.
“In addition to the huge number of donated acorns and nuts, many people shared stories about how much fun they had, things they observed and learned while collecting, and their passion for Virginia’s forests,” said Augusta Nursery Manager Josh McLaughlin. “We heard from master naturalists, educators and students, parents and children, and many homeowners who didn’t actually know what oak trees were in their yard before they started collecting for this annual effort. We at DOF are truly grateful that so many Virginians care about our forests.”
DOF is now hard at work planting the donations at its Augusta Nursery. See how all those donated acorns are planted on our YouTube channel.
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Category: Public Information