CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The warm and sunny weather we have enjoyed in recent days has had a downside. Although the weather has been perfect for outdoor activities, it’s been a hardship on volunteer firefighters as the conditions gave way to an increased number of forest fires all over the state of West Virginia.
“We are seeing fires throughout the state, not just any one area,” said Leslie Smithson, spokesperson for the West Virginia Division of Forestry. “The forests are not as green as we would like to see them because it’s a little early in the season. Sunny weather is getting into the woods and drying out the fuel, the dead leaves and branches that are on the ground.”
Since the first of the year, Smithson said the state has had 444 forest fires which have consumed more than 8,600 acres. The bulk of those fires have happened in the last two weeks. The most common cause of a forest fire has been debris burning which got out of control.
“It is legal to burn after 5 p.m. until 7 a.m.” Smithson explained. “But it is NOT a smart decision to burn.”
Forestry officials are hopeful as they look toward the forecast. Shower activity is expected to return to the state by the weekend.
“We are hoping for measurable rainfall, not just shower,” said Smithson. “It depends on how much rain we get and how quickly the forests green up. We could see bad fire conditions for another couple of weeks.”
Smithson cautioned however, a brief period of showers would only be a temporary reprieve and with low humidity and wind, the volatile conditions would return faster than you might think.