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Patrick County declares local emergency and county-wide burn ban amid extreme dry conditions
Summary
Patrick County declared a local emergency and an immediate county-wide open burning ban, citing extreme dry weather and public safety risks; the declaration invokes Code of Virginia Sections 44-146.21 and 15.2-922.1 and names Scott Cassell as emergency management contact.
Patrick County formally declared a local emergency and ordered a county-wide ban on open-air burning effective immediately during the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 13, 2026. County materials cite extreme dry weather conditions that create an elevated fire danger to residents and volunteer public-safety personnel.
The declaration references Code of Virginia Sections 44-146.21 and 15.2-922.1 as authority for the action and states the ban applies to both public and private property until sufficient precipitation reduces the hazard. The county's emergency management coordinator, Scottle (Scott) Cassell, was listed as the contact for additional information (phone: (276) 694-4940; scassell@co.patrick.va.us).
County staff explained the rationale as preventive: suspending open-air burning reduces the number of escape incidents and allows quicker agency response. The board approved the addition of the burn-ban item to the agenda earlier in the meeting and implemented the restriction immediately upon motion and notice.
