VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE HAS DECLARED A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY AND ENACTED A BAN ON OPEN FIRES. THE BAN IS THE RESULT OF DROUGHT LIKE CONDITIONS THAT HAS PUT THE COMMONWEALTH IN RISK OF WIDESPREAD AND DENGEROUS FOREST FIRES IN EVERY REGION. THE BURN BAN WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS IMPROVE WITH SIGNIFICANT RAIN OR SNOW. IF YOU VIOLATE THE LAW, YOU WILL FACE A CLASS 3 MIDEMEANOR WITH A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN 50O DOLLARS.