The VA Department of Forestry burn laws go into on February 15th and remain in effect until midnight of April 30th. Also known as the “4 pm law”, open burning is permitted from 4pm until midnight and is required to be constantly attended at all times. The listed dates are typically the more dangerous fire season due to dry materials that have fallen over the winter and higher winds during the daytime hours. For more information, contact the local VA Department of Forestry at 556-4145.
After significant storms, individuals with pickup trucks and chainsaws who call themselves tree specialists often cruise through neighborhoods and knock on people’s doors offering “cheap” tree cleanup. Generally, trees need to be removed or trimmed by a qualified professional to lessen long-term damage to the tree and surrounding property. Finding a qualified tree service is important protection for the homeowner. Knowing how to hire a reputable arborist can help prevent becoming a victim all over again. A professionally trained arborist can determine if a tree can be saved. Even if the tree must be removed, safety and training are still needed to prevent additional damage from the removal. Most chainsaw injuries occur during storm cleanup. In a time of disaster, a fast recovery is desirable, but not taking the time to hire a reputable tree service may create greater problems in the future. The worst result of haste may be paying in advance for tree work that is never completed. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers these tips on hiring an arborist: