Fires play a vital role in keeping certain types of forests, grasslands, and other landscapes healthy. Many land managers embrace prescribed fire – that is, setting intentional, controlled fires in a specific area with a specific goal – as a necessary and useful tool to prevent dangerous wildfires and manage certain landscapes for long-term ecological health. DOF encourages the responsible use of controlled burning for the management of Virginia’s natural resources.
Prescribed fire is an important tool for the management of Virginia’s natural resources. The DOF encourages the use of prescribed fire and provides tools to assist burn managers.
Cooperative Efforts
The Virginia Prescribed Fire Council is a unique group in Virginia focused on promoting the use of prescribed fire for ecological benefits. Its membership includes representation from nearly every entity in the Commonwealth with an interest in increasing the use of controlled fire for managing Virginia resources.
Certified Prescribed Burn Managers
To promote the use of prescribed fire in Virginia, as well as raise the knowledge and awareness of Virginia’s prescribed burn practitioners, the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has established a Certified Prescribed Burn Managers Program. The voluntary three-day program includes sessions on fire behavior, environmental effects of fire, and smoke management.
Learn more about the Certified Burn Managers Program.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Date | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Application for Exemption to the 4PM Burning Law | 4.07 | Application to request exemption to the 4PM Burning Law | 12/19/2024 | Form | View | fire-and-emergency-response | form |
| Prescribed Burning Services Agreement | 4.10 | Form to request prescribed burning services from the Virginia Department of Forestry.
| 04/17/2024 | Form | View | fire-and-emergency-response | form |
| Prescribed Burn Management Plan | 4.09 | Form to create a prescribed burn management plan for forestland properties. | 01/17/2024 | Form | View | fire-and-emergency-response | form |
 | Refining the Oak-Fire Hypothesis for Management of Oak-Dominated Forests of the Eastern United States | JAF 110(5) | Report provides some guidelines for thinking more ecologically about when and where to apply fire on the landscape to sustain oak-dominated forests. A very helpful key is provided on page 7 to help managers identify when fire will help managing the forest. | 07/01/2012 | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response forest-management | publication |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association | Report focuses on ozone, fine particle pollution and pollutant interactions; and reviews the roles geography and weather play in the Region’s air quality. | 10/01/2005 | Document | View | fire-and-emergency-response | document | |
| Fire Effects Guide | NFES 2394 | Publication providing comprehensive guidance on fire effects including fire behavior, fuels, air quality, plants, wildlife, and resource management. | 06/01/2001 | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication |
 | Virginia Smoke Management Guidelines | Publication providing comprehensive guidelines for smoke management in prescribed burning operations. | 01/01/1998 | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | |
| Wildfire Smoke Guide | Website provides access to various Wildfire Smoke Guides. | Resource | View | fire-and-emergency-response | resource | ||
| Introduction to Prescribed Fire in Southern Ecosystems | SRS-054 | Publication to help resource managers plan and execute burns in Southern forests and grasslands. | Publication | View | fire-and-emergency-response | publication | |
| Developing Wildlife-Friendly Pine Plantations | Website provides guidance on forest management for wildlife-friendly pine plantations. | Resource | View | fire-and-emergency-response | resource |
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