Burning restrictions return in West Virginia with the spring fire season
WEST VIRGINIA (WVNS) — Burning restrictions return as West Virginia's spring fire season kicks off on March 1.
According to the West Virginia Division of Forestry's Facebook page and website, spring fire season lasts from March 1 to May 31 and open burning is only allowed from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
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There are two fire seasons in West Virginia: spring fire season from March 1 to May 31, and fall fire season from October 1 to December 31.
Violation of the burning law can result in up to a $1,000 fine as well as an additional civil penalty of $200, and vegetative materials are the only type of materials that can be burned. Anyone burning is advised to only burn in low wind conditions.
According to the fire burning guidelines on the West Virginia Division of Forestry's website, fires need to be watched at all times, and all fires need to be completely out before 7:00 a.m. Areas around the fire must have a safety strip, which consists of a minimum 10-foot wide area around the fire that is down to the soil and clear of any material that can be burned.
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If a fire escapes a person's control, the person, firm, or corporation will be responsible for any damage that the fire may cause for other people, as well as costs that come from fighting the fire.
Any power shovels, sawmills, engines, or machines that could create sparks will need to have a sufficient spark arrestor when running on land subject to fire. Inflammable waste areas on any land also need to be cleared of flammable and inflammable materials near disposal areas to give protection and keep any fires from spreading to nearby areas.
There are some exceptions to the burn law guidelines that include: small fires meant for preparing food, warmth, or light, with a 10 foot area around the fire being cleared of burnable debris, and burning that occurs when there is minimum of one inch of snow around the burn area.
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The Division of Forestry can issue commercial permits to burn during restricted times, and willfully setting fire to other people's property is a felony and can be punished by fines and/or jail time.
More information about the burning laws can be found on the West Virginia Division of Forestry's website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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