Back in April, wildfire spread through a rural Warren County neighborhood. Could there be a repeat of this situation throughout the Fall season?

Forestry officials say it could be a possibility.

Any heavy fuels that are three to four inches in diameter, like logs, dead trees and stumps usually hold in moisture and are harder to burn. Now, the dry weather has made them more vulnerable to fire.

"Everything's extremely dry so the fires will get started quicker, they'll spread quicker, and they're much harder to put out because of all of those heavy fuels that are just so bone dry," says Gerald Crowell, Forester for the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Just last week, Governor Tim Kaine ordered a statewide ban on most open fires.

"Normal precautions on burning operations simply do not apply, and don't let these days of occasional rain fool you into thinking it's safe, because it's not going to be," says Crowell.

If the initial suppression of a wildfire doesn't work, firefighters must back off and get to a point in the woods where there's a natural break like a stream or a road. They also build their own fire break with rakes or bulldozers.

Local resources can cover a small wildfire situation, but if it spreads, they may need to call for backup.

"If we get into the situation where we need extra help, where it gets beyond that initial attack phase, we may have to call in additional resources throughout the state," says Crowell.

Authorities say the number one goal in fighting wildfires is to ensure that the firefighters stay safe.

They may sacrifice acreage of forest in order to attack the fire from a safe distance and in a safe manner.