Virginia foresters are asking residents to use caution when burning outdoors during the state's fall wildland fire season.

The season begins October 15 and continues through November 30.

As of Thursday, the Virginia Division of Forestry said 865 wildland fires have burned 6,950 acres of privately owned land this year.

More than 95 percent of wildland fires in the state are caused by people.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.