HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — After two-and-a-half months of caution, another springtime burn ban is almost in the books.

Virginia’s annual 4 p.m. open-air burning law expires tonight, after which time folks will be free to set fires unrestricted by time of day or distance from the forest.

The 80-year-old law takes effect each February 15 through April 30. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, it was put in place to stamp out wildfires during a historically dry and windy time of the year.

Of course, local fire regulations remain in effect.