Media Release

Contact: Eric R. Workman, Ed. D., County Administrator County of Bland Phone: (276) 688-4622 Fax: (276) 688-9758 Email: eworkman@bland.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2019

Bland County has declared a Local Emergency issuing a ban on burning, effective 8:00 a.m. September 14, 2019, in response to fire hazard conditions that create an extreme fire danger. The ban is the result of extremely dry conditions with little to no rainfall predicted.

This DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DUE TO DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS in accordance with Section 44-146.21 and 15.2-922.1 of the Code of Virginia and hereby establishes a ban on open-air burning for the County of Bland until further notice and put on alert the response and recovery programs of all applicable local, and inter-jurisdictional emergency operations plans should activation be warranted.

The ban on open-air burning applies to public and private property and will remain in effect until Bland County receives sufficient precipitation to reduce fire danger.