timesnews — With more than two feet of snow on the ground in many portions of West Virginia, probably the last thing that comes to mind is the danger of forest fires. Nevertheless, the state’s spring forest fire season began Monday.
Division of Forestry assistant forester Ben Webster said forest fires aren’t expected to be an immediate problem because of the snow cover. But the winter storms that have brought the snow blanket also have caused downed trees and limbs. Those could be a problem as landowners burn the debris once the snow melts.
Last fall, about 5,000 acres across West Virginia forest land burned in forest fires. In prior years, acreage loss to fire was much higher than that.
The Division of Forestry urges landowners to use common sense when they do burn brush. Always be in sight of the fire, clear debris from around the area and keep a hose handy in case the fire gets out of control.
No outdoor burning is allowed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless there is an inch of more of snow in the ground. In nearly all of the state, this is the case — and probably will be well into spring.
But once spring arrives and temperatures moderate, warm winds could rapidly melt snow and dry the forest ground. It is then when the fire danger could increase dramatically.
The spring fire season is not over officially until May 31.
Editorials
Related Photos
-
Forest fires
Forest fires
As snow cover melts, danger increases
- Editorials
-
-
What’s ahead?
Is there a future for Cumberland’s Canal Fest/Rail Fest?
-
An earful
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley appears miffed over the criticism he is receiving for trying to place a sales tax on gasoline purchases in the state. He may as well get used to it, because many of his constituents think the idea is a stinker.
-
Isn’t the writter suggesting it really is a matter of choice?
The debate over homosexual marriage in the letters in this newspaper is very revealing. One writer claimed that, “denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination.”
-
Adults can help keep children from suffering burn injuries
I am writing concerning your article in the Feb. 6 Times-News concerning National Burns Awareness Week “National Burn Awareness Week prompts safety tips,” Page 1B).
-
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS REPRESENTING THE AREA
-
Slow but sure
For the past dozen years, the Mineral County Historical Foundation has been working slowly to restore the once-magnificent Carskadon Mansion in Keyser, W.Va., for use as a museum, genealogy research center and meeting site.
-
It would cost nothing to let these students ride the bus
Let me share with you how our Allegany County school system operates.
-
Not in the Bible, but the Communist Manifesto
President Obama has hit a new low. By promoting his reasoning for hiking taxes on the rich at the National Prayer Breakfast, he diminished the seriousness of his proposals and manipulated Jesus’ teachings for his own political purposes. How pathetic.
-
Landlords, tenants, city all responsible for smoke alarms Landlords, tenants, city all responsible for smoke alarms Landlords, tenants, city all responsible for smoke alarms
Are rental inspections being done?Is the landlord responsible for smoke detectors?
-
Get tough
Based on the number of drivers we see who are still talking on handheld cell phones, Maryland lawmakers are justified in making the state’s cell phone law tougher.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
