New executive order changes the way Virginia handles wildfires
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A new executive order signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin is going to change the way state agencies respond to wildfires in Virginia. Executive Order 40 was signed as the state begins the 2024 wildfire season. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) said the purpose of the new executive order is to strengthen the state's abilities to prepare and respond to wildfires, as well as increase coordination with local fire departments. According to the agency, the executive order was prompted by both a busier-than-normal fall wildfire season in Virginia and also a busier-than-normal spring 2024 fire season. John Miller, the Chief of Fire & Emergency response with the DOF, said Virginia's last wildfire season was worse than usual in part due to a drought. “The number of acres burned was substantially higher than our average," Miller said. "Pretty much the highest acreage burned as what we've seen in the last 20 years, honestly." He also said the same drought conditions are present this year. The DOF said it will be communicating more frequently with the public by sending out at least three messages each day that a wildfire is active. “The governor just wanted to make sure that the agencies involved in wildfire suppression [in Virginia] were cooperating like they need to -- working together, communicating, sharing information with the public," Miller said. “So, again, we're just trying to stress safe debris burning, mainly to prevent Virginia's leading cause of wildfires.” The executive order, which went into effect on Oct. 21, also doubles down on educating the public on wildfire safety. The DOF said this is especially important this season because the agency anticipates more people will be burning hurricane debris. “It's really a resurgence of just making sure everybody's doing what they're supposed to do, quite frankly," Miller said. The fall wildfire season started on Oct. 15 and will end on Nov. 30.
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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A new executive order signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin is going to change the way state agencies respond to wildfires in Virginia.
Executive Order 40 was signed as the state begins the 2024 wildfire season.
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) said the purpose of the new executive order is to strengthen the state's abilities to prepare and respond to wildfires, as well as increase coordination with local fire departments.
According to the agency, the executive order was prompted by both a busier-than-normal fall wildfire season in Virginia and also a busier-than-normal spring 2024 fire season.
John Miller, the Chief of Fire & Emergency response with the DOF, said Virginia's last wildfire season was worse than usual in part due to a drought.
“The number of acres burned was substantially higher than our average," Miller said. "Pretty much the highest acreage burned as what we've seen in the last 20 years, honestly."
He also said the same drought conditions are present this year. The DOF said it will be communicating more frequently with the public by sending out at least three messages each day that a wildfire is active.
“The governor just wanted to make sure that the agencies involved in wildfire suppression [in Virginia] were cooperating like they need to -- working together, communicating, sharing information with the public," Miller said. “So, again, we're just trying to stress safe debris burning, mainly to prevent Virginia's leading cause of wildfires.”
The executive order, which went into effect on Oct. 21, also doubles down on educating the public on wildfire safety. The DOF said this is especially important this season because the agency anticipates more people will be burning hurricane debris.
“It's really a resurgence of just making sure everybody's doing what they're supposed to do, quite frankly," Miller said.
The fall wildfire season started on Oct. 15 and will end on Nov. 30.
