
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 10, 1993                   TAG: 9305120341
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VIRGINIA FOREST FIRES AT THEIR LOWEST EBB

Because of the wet winter and spring, Virginia foresters have been called to fight fewer forest fires than any year on record, says the state's chief of fire management.

In average year, there will be about 1,000 fires that burn 6,000 to 7,000 acres, some structures will burn and one life will be lost.

So far this year, there have been 430 fires that burned 2,508 acres.

In the first five months of the year, the sun beats down on the leaves, pine needles and other potential fuel on the forest floor and humidity is low, causing dry conditions that make it easy for a forest fire to spread. As leaves grow and shade the forest floor and humidity rises, the chance of a forest fire diminishes.

Virginia's official season for forest fires runs through through May 15.

But the forests are so wet and green that it's unlikely a fire of any significance will break out in the next week, says Don Morton of the state Department of Forestry.

Biggest fires this year:

300-acre fire in Wythe County

105-acre fire in Nelson County

What causes forest fires?

98 percent of the fires are caused by people, usually those who are burning debris

2 percent are caused by lightning.

Source: Associated Press.

by CNB