The start of West Virginia’s annual spring fire season March 1 marked the return of burning restrictions.
The West Virginia Division of Forestry reminds residents to confine outdoor burning to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to West Virginia State Code Chapter 20-3-5. Fires set during that time must be put out before 7 a.m.
“Despite the recent cold and snowy winter, the fuel sources can dry out quickly. Since Jan. 1, we have responded to 50 fires that have consumed approximately 232 acres. We urge everyone to strictly adhere to burning regulations, particularly during sunny and windy conditions,” said Jeremy Jones, director/state forester of the West Virginia Division of Forestry.
Statewide burning restrictions will remain in effect until the spring fire season closes on May 31. The division of forestry has issued burning guidelines on its website at wvforestry.com/fire-laws.
Regulations include:
• All fires must have a safety strip.
• The safety strip itself must be cleared of burnable material and be at least 10 feet wide.
• Fire must be attended until completely extinguished.
• Only vegetative materials, such as leaves, brush and yard clippings, are permitted to be burnt.
• Spark-throwing machinery, such as power shovels or sawmills operating on land subject to fire, must contain an adequate spark arrestor.
• Inflammable waste disposal areas must annually remove all grass, brush, debris and other inflammable material adjacent to disposal areas to provide adequate protection, preventing the escape of fire to adjacent lands.
“We understand that folks will be wanting to clean up their yards after the winter storms,” Jones said. “However, we urge everyone to adhere to our burning restrictions and to contact their local regional office with any questions about current conditions. During the sunny and warm days of spring, fuels can dry out quickly, allowing fires to start and spread easily.”
Commercial burning during prohibited periods requires a permit, which are issued by local WVDOF offices. A permit is required for each commercial burning site. For more information, contact your regional headquarters at https://wvforestry.com/contact-us.
Any person or company that causes a fire on grass or forest land must reimburse the state for the costs of suppressing the fire. Fines for forest fires caused by negligence range from $100 to $1,000, with an additional civil penalty of $200.
The division of forestry protects nearly 12 million acres of forestland across West Virginia. For more information on fire safety and programs like forest legacy, logging and landowner assistance, visit wvforestry.com.
