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West Virginia’s fall burning restrictions take effect Thursday, Oct. 1, and last through Dec. 31, according to a release from the West Virginia Division of Forestry.
No outdoor burning from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Any evening or overnight fire must be fully out before 7 a.m.
“With autumn leaves covering the ground and lower humidity during the day, even a small campfire or debris burn can quickly escape control,” Division of Forestry Director and State Forester Jeremy Jones said in the release.
The division identifies debris burning as the state’s leading wildfire cause, accounting for more than 35% of wildfires on average over the past decade. Humidity generally rises at night, the release explains, while dry leaves and other material on the forest floor help fires spread during the day.
The release also spells out precautions required under state law:
- Keep watch over a fire continuously and extinguish it completely before stepping away, even briefly.
- Remove all burnable material from a strip at least 10 feet wide around the fire.
- Fit equipment that can throw sparks with an adequate spark arrestor when operating on land that could catch fire.
Fines can reach $1,000 for breaking the burning law. Anyone whose fire escapes is responsible for firefighting costs and resulting damage, the release says. The division can authorize daytime burning through commercial permits.
The division’s website offers a guide to fire laws and safe burning and a Daily Fire Report. My Buckhannon also covered the restrictions ahead of the 2025 fall fire season.
