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At the beginning of this week, the West Virginia Division of Forestry was fighting several dozen active wildfires all over the state. There were 50 in the eight-county Region 4 -- the southern mountains -- alone.
Division of Forestry officials reported they did not have the labor to get to all the fires, but were doing their best to tackle each one as quickly as possible. In fact, State Forester and Director of the WV Division of Forestry Jeremy Jones on Sunday pleased to state residents, "Please do not burn today."
It's an overwhelming job for these men and women trying to protect our land -- and our communities.
In the midst of this fall/winter fire season, we all can do something to help: Follow the rules.
Starting back on Oct. 1 and continuing through Dec. 31, one rule is simple yet violated: Burning is prohibited from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Just don't do it.
Fires during permitted times must have a ring or safety strip cleared of burnable material at least 10 feet wide.
Fires must be attended and fully extinguished when not monitored.
Only vegetative materials such as leaves, brush and yard clippings are permitted to be burnt.
Consequences for breaking the rules are that "fines for forest fires due to negligence range from $100 to $1,000 with additional civil penalty of $200."
There are other guidelines. You can find them here: https://wvforestry.com/fire-laws/