                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

UPON PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR CERTAIN ACTS MADE UNLAWFUL WHERE EXTRAORDINARY
FIRE HAZARDS EXIST; CLOSING OF HUNTING AND FISHING SEASONS (§ 10.1-1159)

Upon proclamation of the Governor, it shall be unlawful, when the forestlands,
brushlands and fields in the Commonwealth or any part thereof have become so dry
as to create an extraordinary fire hazard endangering lives and property, for
any person, except the owner, tenant or owner&#8217;s authorized agent, persons
regularly engaged in cutting, processing, or moving forest products, or person
on official duty, to enter or travel in any state, county, municipal or private
forestlands, brushlands, marshland, fields or idle or abandoned lands in the
area so affected except on public highways or well-defined private roads. During
such period hunting and fishing seasons shall be closed, except hunting of
migratory waterfowl and fishing as hereinafter provided, on all land and water
within the Commonwealth or any geographical part thereof affected by
proclamation. It shall further be unlawful during such periods for any person to
hunt or fish except as hereinafter provided, smoke, burn leaves, grass, brush or
debris of any type or to ignite or maintain any open fire nearer than 300 feet
from any such forestlands, brushlands or fields containing inflammable
vegetation or marshland adjoining such forestlands, brushlands, fields or idle
or abandoned lands.
		It shall not be unlawful to fish or hunt migratory waterfowl from a boat, or
from a blind entirely surrounded by water and reached by a boat, or on
nonforested islands at least 300 feet from the mainland shore and reached by a
boat, when the boat embarks from and lands at established boat landings, and at
no other time touches shore nearer than 300 feet from any forestlands,
brushlands, or fields containing inflammable vegetation or marshland adjoining
such areas.
		It shall be the duty of all authorized law-enforcement officers of the
Commonwealth, counties and municipalities to enforce the provisions of this
section.
		Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class
2 misdemeanor for each separate offense.

HISTORY: 1954, c. 134, § 27-54.1; 1964, c. 65; 1966, c. 302; 1986, c. 188;
1988, c. 891.