A controlled burn conducted by the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, along the border of Prince William and Fauquier counties, produced heavy smoke Sunday afternoon. Quantico Fire & Emergency Services said the burn operation occurred from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A controlled burn is a “fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement,” the department said in a Facebook post.
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Emergency officials in Prince William County are asking residents to refrain from calling 911 to report the smoke, unless they are reporting a life-threatening emergency, smoke inside a structure of flames near a structure. Those with respiratory illnesses or medical conditions that could be aggravated by the smoke are asked to stay inside until it dissipates. The map below gives a view of the area affected by the smoke. County officials said the smoke has spread over several thousand acres.
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In addition, the National Weather Service is noting the smoke has appeared on its radar, displaying like low-level clouds.
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