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A few weeks later and we’re back to normal. Or at least we’re no longer in the middle of a drought. As a result, the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors has discontinued the burn ban that was in effect. 

“The Board of Supervisors and Emergency Management hereby lift the burn ban previously instated to mitigate fire danger,” the group said in a statement. 

One major reason that Lunenburg, and Prince Edward before, have canceled their burn bans is the sudden change in the weather we’ve experienced recently. For example, on Sunday Lunenburg County saw rain from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., before some of it started turning into snow. All of that moisture helped to alleviate the dry conditions. And now it looks like more of the same is coming this Sunday, where we currently have a 45% chance of rain in Lunenburg. 

So now that the ban is lifted, what exactly does that mean? It removes the emergency ordinance to ban all open-air fires and outdoor burning in the county. This includes the Town of Victoria and the Town of Kenbridge.

Also, for the first time since early October, we don;t have to worry about massive clouds of smoke rolling through, as all of Virginia’s wildfires have been put out, at least for now. 

The previous ban had covered burning associated with construction, earth-moving and demolition operations; burning associated with all agricultural and silvicultural activities; home burn barrels, fire pits or equivalents; campfires on public and private property; and all other open-air and outdoor fires. 

The only thing county officials warn is to be cautious of starting fires outside when it’s windy. Sunday’s weather included wind gusts that reached 30 mph at times. 

“Lunenburg citizens can resume normal open-air burning with caution for windy conditions,” the statement from county supervisors said.