August rains relieved concerns about wildfires in Loudoun County this summer and persuaded Chief Fire Marshal W. Keith Brower Jr. not to extend the burn ban next month.

But residents are advised to be careful about burning mulch and debris because the welcome rains did not reverse months of dry conditions, he said.

Governments throughout the Northern Virginia area routinely ban outdoor burning until Sept. 1, but the spurt of July wildfires and drought conditions led to speculation Brower would extend the drought into the fall.

“It’s not a cut-and-dry decision,” Brower said, adding, “The fire potential is only reduced, it isn’t eliminated. … We’re still not out of the woods.”

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Regular showers every three to four days in August were enough to dramatically improve the situation firefighters faced in July, he said.

The surge in outdoor fire calls from 35 in 2006 to more than 90 in 2007 brought legitimate fears of future fires, Brower said.

Although other methods for removing debris are preferred, residents depend on the ban being lifted, Brower said.

“Most people have been good about adhering to the current ban and they rely on Sept. 1 rolling around to get some of that debris out of the way,” he said.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com