RICHMOND — Fall wildfire season begins Thursday across Virginia.

“While Virginia’s most active wildfire season is typically in the spring, fall can be just as busy,” said John Miller, the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VDOF) director of resource protection. “While we had some significant rain over the past couple of weeks, we didn’t have a lot of rain this summer, and the dead leaves are starting to drop from the trees. This ‘leaf litter’ is an abundant source of fuel for wildfires, which can spread rapidly during dry and windy days.”

According to State Forester Bettina Ring, “Preventing a wildfire from ever starting is critical to the safety and security of our citizens. And, since most wildfires (96 percent) in Virginia are caused by human activity, if people are careful and pay attention to weather conditions, they can keep themselves and their property safe by not letting a wildfire start.”

Fall wildfire season runs from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 each year.