Outdoor burning restrictions begin Sunday

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Division of Forestry says outside burning will be restricted during the annual spring forest fire season which begins Sunday and runs through May 31.

Outdoor burning is only allowed from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. Residents caught burning between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. face citations and fines up to $1,000.

The Division of Forestry offers these tips for safe outdoor burning:

–   Burn only after 5 p.m. — it’s the law — and put your fire out completely by 7 a.m.

–   Put debris in several small piles instead of one large one.

–   Never burn on dry, windy days.

–   Select a safe place away from overhead power lines, phone lines or other obstructions and where the fire cannot spread into the woods or weedy or brushy areas.

–   Clear at least a 10-foot area around the fire and make sure the area is clear of all burnable material.

–   Have water and tools on hand to extinguish anything that may escape the burn area.

–   Be conscientious of neighbors and don’t burn debris that produces a lot of smoke at times when  smoke does not rise. If the smoke spreads out near the ground instead of rising put out the fire and burn another time.

–   Stay with the fire at all times until it is completely out. Leaving a fire unattended for any length of time is illegal.

–   Call 911 immediately if a fire does escape.

–   Contact local city government offices for possible burning ordinances when burning within city limits.