Smoke From Controlled Burn At Quantico Catches Region By Surprise

QUANTICO, VA — A controlled burn at Marine Corps Base Quantico Sunday afternoon near the Stafford and Fauquier county line caused moderate to heavy smoke conditions across parts of Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C., catching many local jurisdictions by surprise. The base was conducting the controlled burn on about 2,000 acres in the area.

Individuals with respiratory illnesses or medical conditions that are aggravated by smoke were instructed to remain indoors Sunday until smoke conditions clear. The controlled burn was expected to last two days, officials said Sunday. But the forester at Marine Corps Base Quantico indicated to an area official that the burn would end Sunday.

Prior to the planned controlled burn, no public alerts were issued by the Marine Corps Base or local authorities. Local police and fire departments were forced to play catch-up by posting notices on social media after receiving calls from residents expressing concern.

Many reports on Sunday indicated the U.S. Forest Service was participating in the prescribed burn. The Forest Service had nothing to do with the prescribed burn, a spokesman said Monday.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue officials said they were in contact with Marine Corps Base Quantico officials Sunday morning about the controlled burn. Later in the day, after the smoke became worse, the police asked residents Sunday not to call 911 to report smoke in the area unless the smoke or flames are coming from inside or near a structure.

"Our Communications Center was made aware of the burn yesterday morning, which is normal practice, but the extent and intensity of the burn was not clearly communicated or understood," Prince William County Fire Marshal Matt Smolsky said Monday in an email to Patch. "We have discussed the situation with base officials to hopefully eliminate the confusion for future burns."

Based on his conversation with the forester at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sunday, Smolsky, who also serves as assistant chief in the Prince William County Fire and Rescue's command staff, understood that the controlled burn was complete and would not be lasting another day.

The National Weather Service said Sunday afternoon that smoke from the controlled burn near the border of Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford counties was showing up on its radar and satellite. "It looks like low level clouds in this picture, but it is actually a smoke plume," the National Weather Service said.

Fairfax and Arlington County officials also warned residents Sunday about smoke and hazy conditions in the area.

The D.C. Fire and EMS Department noted Sunday afternoon that the "smoke is being pushed as far as Northwest DC, and has resulted in several odor of smoke responses."