Montgomery County on Friday lifted the burn ban that it had imposed July 5 after significant rains fell over the region in recent days.

The New River Valley has received several inches of rain the past week -- ranging from less than 2 inches in parts of Blacksburg and Christiansburg to nearly 6 inches in parts of eastern Montgomery County -- according to the National Weather Service.

However, officials asked that anyone planning to do outdoor burning call the sheriff's department and let them know so fire trucks will not be dispatched unnecessarily.

"The countywide ban went into effect July 5 for the protection of property and lives," officials said in a news release announcing the lifting of the ban.

"Thanks to all who have postponed outdoor burning until there is adequate rain."

Montgomery County has been aggressive in monitoring the dry conditions and was the first county in the state to impose a burn ban this year, said Dennis McCarthy, assistant regional forester for the Salem-based Western Region of the Virginia Department of Forestry.

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He said Montgomery County has been a leader in the efforts to prevent fires.

The New River Valley, along with most of Virginia, has baked under extremely hot dry skies for most of the summer.

Peter Corrigan with the NWS in Blacksburg said Friday morning that most of the area got less than 50 percent of normal rainfall in June -- and most of it evaporated during the record-hot month.

The weather situation locally was more complicated in July with spotty rainfall. While Blacksburg recorded 4.62 inches of rain, Christiansburg had 1.71 inches and Pulaski had 1.31 at the official weather stations, Corrigan said.

Officials were concerned that, because of the recent rainfall, residents would think the fire danger had passed. But they still warned everyone to be vigilant against forest fires.

Veteran Draper Volunteer Department Fire Chief Dalford Phillips summed up the effort in just a few words.

"The main thing to do when it's dry or windy, just don't start fire," Phillips stated.

He noted that when a fire gets out of control the person responsible will almost always say they did not realize how dry or windy it was.

"I firmly believe most fires are accidental, and if we can raise the awareness of folks to the dangers and what they can do to reduce the chance of wildfires we will all be better off for it," said Fred Turck with the forestry department.

The person causing the fire is financially responsible for costs of fighting the fire and losses caused by it, Turck said.

The lifting of the Montgomery County ban and the recent rains are providing some relief. But as the state approaches the fall fire season, people need to keep their guards up, officials stressed.

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McCarthy said rain can be local and fall in one place while nearby no rain falls. Across the state this summer, spotty has often been the term to describe rainfall.

"In terms of the drought conditions in Salem, yes, there has been a great deal of relief provided over the last week," he said.

"And yes, the rain has also not been complete in coverage over the droughty area from s
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