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WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
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Tips for safe outdoor burning
• Put debris in several small piles instead of one large one
• Never burn on dry, windy days
• Select a safe place away from overhead power lines, phone lines or other obstructions and where the fire cannot spread into the woods or weedy or brushy areas
• Clear at least a 10-foot area around the fire and make sure the area is clear of all burnable material
• Have water and tools on hand to extinguish anything that may escape the burn area
• Be conscientious of neighbors and don’t burn debris that produces a lot of smoke at times when smoke does not rise. If the smoke spreads out near the ground instead of rising, put out the fire and burn another time.
• Stay with the fire at all times until it is completely out. Leaving a fire unattended for any length of time is illegal.
• Call 911 immediately if a fire does escape
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- Spring 2011 - 321 fires burned 1,715 acres
- Fall 2010 - 353 fires burned 10,844 acres
- Spring 2010 - 413 fires burned 12,067 acres
- 2009 - 984 fires burned 14,973 acres
- 2008 - 889 fires burned 13,151 acres
- 2007 - 849 fires burned 7,122 acres
- 2006 - 1,022 fires burned 17,608 acres
- 2005 - 757 fires burned 12,436 acres
- 2004 - 632 fires burned 6,022 acres
- 2003 - 669 fires burned 8,370 acres
- 2002 - 959 fires burned 10,024 acres
- 2001 - 887 fires burned 86,465 acres
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CAUSES OF WILDFIRES IN WEST VIRGINIA
Through their carelessness, people cause the majority of forest fires in West Virginia. In 2010, 76% of all forest fires were due to three main causes: escaped debris fires, arson fires and equipment use. Escaped debris burning attributed to 234 fires or 30% of all fires. Arson or incendiary fires were the cause of 208 fires or 27% of all fires. Equipment use in or near the forest created another 145 fires or 19% of all fires.
Other causes that lead to fires in West Virginia include campfires, children, railroads, smokers and lightning.
ABOUT THE WILDFIRE CONTROL PROGRAM
The DOF's top priority is protecting the state's forest resource from the ravages of wildfire. At the turn of the 20th century, wildfires devastated West Virginia's forests. In 1908, more than 1.7 million acres of forestland were destroyed by fire. As a result of this devastation, the West Virginia Reform Law of 1909 was established to protect the State's only renewable resource, the forest. Today the DOF is responsible for protecting nearly 12 million acres of forestland across West Virginia.
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