                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

FAILURE TO CLEAN PREMISES OF CERTAIN MILLS (§ 10.1-1144)

Any individual, firm, or corporation responsible for the operation of a saw
mill, stave mill, heading mill, or any other mill in, through or near forest or
brushland shall clean the premises for at least a distance of fifty yards in all
directions from any fires maintained in or about, or in connection with the
operation of such mill. The premises shall also be cleaned for a distance of 100
feet in all directions from any sawdust pile, slab pile, or any other
inflammable material which accumulates from the operation of such mill, or all
matter not essential to the operation of such mill, which is liable to take fire
from any sparks emitted from such fires. When any mill is removed or ceases to
operate for a period of ten consecutive days, any fire which may be burning in
any sawdust pile, slab pile or other debris shall be totally extinguished unless
the owner of the land on which such fire is located assumes in writing
responsibility for the control of the fire. Any person, firm or corporation
violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 4
misdemeanor. Each day or fraction thereof on which any such mill is operated in
violation of the provisions of this section and each day or fraction thereof on
which fire is allowed to burn in any sawdust pile, slab pile or other
inflammable debris in violation of the provisions of this section, shall be
deemed a separate offense.
		Whenever it is established that a forest fire originated from a fire
maintained in or about any such mill, the individual, firm, or corporation, from
whose mill any such fire originated shall immediately become liable for all
costs incurred in fighting such fire.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 10-64; 1986, c. 188; 1988, c. 891.