Albemarle County Fire Rescue has determined it is once again safe to burn materials outdoors and has lifted a ban imposed on November 17.
“Effective immediately, residents may resume open air burning activities,” reads the release. “We encourage the entire community to remain fire-aware and practice safe burning practices.”
Those practices are available for review on the county’s website. These include guidelines for fires built for property maintenance and land clearing.
Albemarle Fire Rescue listed three factors that led to the decision to lift the ban, including the Department of Forestry’s fire rating for the Charlottesville / Albemarle as 1 out of 5 with five being the highest. They also invoke a Keetch-Byram Drought Index of 12 out of 800.
“Recent rainfall has effectively dampened the ground and foliage,” reads the press release. “While these rains haven’t completely alleviated the long-term drought conditions mainly in the county’s western portion, it’s important to note that the lingering drought is just one component, not the main driver, of fire danger.
Louisa County had imposed a ban but already lifted it on November 22.
Outdoor bans are still in effect in Nelson County and Greene County according to their website.
John Adkins, the director of emergency services in Nelson County, said the Board of Supervisors will reconsider the ban there on December 12.
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