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NEWS
Wet February precedes start of forest fire season in W.Va., Ohio
HUNTINGTON -- The last week of February saw more than two inches of rainfall, but that doesn't change the fact that spring forest fire season begins Tuesday, March 1, in West Virginia and Ohio.
The season runs through May 31 in both states, with outdoor burning prohibited from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in West Virginia and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Ohio.
"Spring is a dangerous time for forest fires in West Virginia," said Director and State Forester Randy Dye. "Warmer weather encourages people to get outside and clean up debris left behind from winter storms. With more people outside burning, the risk of forest fires increases."
Residents can burn vegetative materials, including brush, leaves and limbs, but only after 4 p.m. Anyone who conducts outdoor burning must complete all burning before 7 a.m. and supervise all fires until they are completely extinguished.
Dye said winds are a major contributor to spreading debris from fires into surrounding woods. He uges residents to use common sense and consider the weather conditions before burning, even during legal burn hours.
Forestry officials also suggest several tips when burning debris, including the creation of a 10-foot perimeter around the fire and keeping a rake, shovel and water source nearby. If a fire does spread into the woods, call 911.
Penalties also can be assessed if a fire escapes and starts a forest fire, which can carry a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $300.
Other notes to remember: Commercial permits to burn during the prohibited periods may be issued by the Division of Forestry; all sawmills, power shovels or an engine or machine capable of throwing sparks must be provided with an adequate spark arrestor if operating on land subject to fire by any cause; and all inflammable waste disposal areas on any land must annually have removed all grass, brush, debris and other inflammable material adjacent to such disposal areas to provide adequate protection to prevent the escape of fire to adjacent lands.
Ohio's laws are similar and dictate that fires must be more than 1,000 feet from a neighbor's inhabited building; no burning when an air pollution alert, warning or emergency is in effect; and fire and smoke cannot obscure visibility on a roadway, railway or airfield.
In addition, there is no burning allowed within a village, city limits or restricted area.
Kentucky's spring forest fire season started Feb. 15 and continues through April 30. During this time, it is illegal to burn anything within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
