Due to ongoing dry conditions, open air fires in Madison County have been banned until further notice.
Supervisors issued the ban Tuesday morning via declaration, stating that much of the county is in severe drought conditions as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The county currently has a value of between 101 and 200 countywide on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index which is 50-100 points above normal. Additionally, the weather forecast is calling for low humidity levels and high temperatures particularly during the afternoon and early evening hours. There is also an enhanced potential for wildfires, according to the National Weather Service.
The open air fire ban will remain in effect until further notice. Open air fires are defined as the burning of materials wherein the products of combustion are emitted directly into ambient air. This includes campfires, burning trash, burn barrels, bonfires, debris fires and other similar fires.
A fire ban is also in effect in Shenandoah National Park. The parkwide ban on open-air fires was issued Monday due to high fire danger and dry conditions.
Much of the state is listed as being in D2, severe drought, conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Madison County is split, with half in severe drought and half in D1, moderate drought, conditions. On Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated 24 counties as drought disaster areas. Primary drought designations were assigned to Brunswick, Greensville and Southampton counties, enabling farmers to receive assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Farmers in the contiguous counties are also eligible for assistance. Primary drought designated counties are those that have been within the D2 drought intensity rating for eight or more consecutive weeks during the growing season or have an intensity level of D3, extreme drought, or D4, exceptional drought.
