Fire season remains a burning concern — Be Mindful

According to the division, debris burning is the state's most common cause of wildfires.

Fire response and evacuations

"Fall fire season is a critical time for forest protection in West Virginia," said Jeremy Jones, director and state forester.

"With autumn leaves covering the ground and lower humidity during the day, even a small campfire or debris burn can quickly escape control.

In addition to sticking to the allowed timeframe, fires must also be attended at all times (and completely extinguished if they are not — for any length of time), and kept inside a cleared 10-foot safety strip.

Equipment must be operated with an adequate spark arrestor, if applicable.

Failure to follow these rules could lead not just to the destruction of valuable forest and personal property.

West Virginians know all too well, it can have deadly consequences.

Cause of fire under investigation

Escaped debris fires remain our leading cause of wildfires, but they are entirely preventable."