Henry County, Patrick County and Martinsville remain under a state drought emergency advisory as Virginia...

Henry County, Patrick County and Martinsville remain under a state drought emergency advisory as Virginia enters the heart of its fall wildfire season, with forestry officials warning that dry vegetation and careless outdoor burning can threaten homes and woods. The seasonal warning comes as Governor Abigail Spanberger announced Tuesday more than $52 million in federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery projects across Southwest and Western Virginia, including forest recovery, wildfire prevention and repairs to trails and other infrastructure.

The money will be available over 10 years through agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, with work continuing through 2036, and the announcement identifies no specific project or allocation for Henry, Patrick or Martinsville. Four categories covering native vegetation regeneration, wildfire mitigation and prescribed burning, state forest ecological restoration and invasive species control total $33.5 million, about 64 percent of the $52.18 million in listed projects. The largest single category, $15.5 million, supports native forest regeneration with management of about 500 acres annually, while $9.5 million addresses wildfire hazards with plans to mechanically treat 250 acres and conduct prescribed burns on at least 1,000 acres a year.

Virginia's fall fire season runs Oct. 15 through Nov. 30, and the Department of Forestry says nine out of 10 Virginia wildfires are caused by people, with escaped debris fires a leading concern. DEQ's Oct. 23 update kept the drought emergency advisory for the Roanoke River region, which includes all three localities, even after the New River region was released from advisories. Federal figures list January-through-September precipitation 8.12 inches below normal in Henry County and 7.9 inches below normal in Patrick County, and Martinsville's ordinance limits open burning to 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., requires fires to remain attended and generally requires 50 feet of separation from an occupied building for leaves.

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Source note: Star News TV · Oct 29, 2026 10:51 PM.