Augusta County supervisors declare a local state of emergency
AUGUSTA COUNTY — In response to the ongoing threat posed by high winds and wildfires, the Augusta County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday afternoon declared a local state of emergency that is effective immediately.
"This decision comes as a proactive measure to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, property, and wildlife within Augusta County," a press release said.
DATA: Fires in your area
A combination of gusty winds and dry conditions have caused multiple wildfires throughout the county, according to the release.
In declaring a state of emergency, the board of supervisors is mobilizing all available resources to combat the threat posed by wildfires. This includes coordinating with local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and emergency management services in addition to accessing state and federal resources to enhance preparedness and response efforts, the release said.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and exercise caution during this time. High winds can rapidly spread wildfires, making them extremely difficult to contain. Citizens should avoid lighting any fire in open air until the emergency is lifted. This includes the burning of any wood, brush, logs, leaves, grass, debris, or other flammable material.
"We take the threat of wildfires very seriously, especially given the current weather conditions," said Jeff Slaven, chair for the board of supervisors. "Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our residents, and we are taking every possible step to minimize the impact of these fires on our community."
At the same time Augusta County declared its local state of emergency, Albemarle County sent out a press release that said firefighters and volunteer units were responding to approximately 10 active brush fires of varying sizes throughout the county, along with multiple calls for smoke investigations.
"Three outbuildings have been involved so far in the fires," the Albemarle County press release said. "Several structures are threatened by fires yet to be contained. The number of acres involved and the percentage contained are not yet available."
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Augusta County declares a local state of emergency
