Fired Up About His Job

YOU SHOULD know that you can't have an open fire burn- ing before 4 p.m. here in Virginia between Feb. 15 and April 30. Also, if you're enjoying a traditional campfire or just an friendly open-pit-fire get-together with some of your neighbors, this time of year you can't add another log to the pile after midnight.

That's the law when you're within 300 feet of any woodland, brushland or a field containing dry grass or other flammable material, and you can't ever leave it unattended if it's within 150 feet of those things.

I was reminded of this when I saw a man in uniform putting up some burning-ban posters around our neighborhood.

MEET FORESTER STONE

I held out my hand to introduce myself, and learned his name was David Stone and he's the forester for Louisa County.

I made an appointment and we had a long chat at his office, and I've since learned a whole lot more.

For starters, Stone has a very interesting background. This is no local boy. He grew up in New Hampshire and then spent time traveling around the world. After stints from Maine to Africa and working in the logging trade in the Pacific Northwest and Arizona, Stone settled in central Virginia back in 1997.

This county forester is also a certified arborist. Each Virginia county has a forester responsible for that area, but they don't have to be certified arborists.

I guess we're just lucky around here.

THE DUTIES

Stone carries a badge and has deputy powers. He can write you a summons or arrest somebody for arson.

This forester sometimes works as an educator in the schools, helps individual landowners with tree problems or assists big timber operations. He also works with local governments planning urban tree selection and placement, plus he supports farmers in reforestation projects for sediment control and things like improving overall water quality.

With 77 percent of Louisa County still in forest, and trees being the No. 1 Virginia crop, it's not hard to imagine that Stone is a very busy fellow.

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WATCHING FOREST FIRES: Fire towers used to be widely seen throughout Virginia and there are still a few of them around. However, the only one that stands tall right next to a forestry office is the one in Louisa, Md. It's located near the edge of town, right near where the railroad tracks come very close to the main road.

Date published: 3/14/2009

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