WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): Every year, the spring season comes with increased fire weather and burning bans across The Mountain State. Meteorologist Christian Boteler has the details:
West Virginia burn bans span across the spring and autumn fire seasons, going from March 1st to May 31st and October 1st through December 31st respectively. These bans prohibit any burning from 7am to 5pm during those time periods, and require a water source 10 feet or closer from the source when burning is permitted. With that in mind, why are these bans in place only during the day?
The main reason these bans focus on daytime burning is due to winds whipping up. Air heats up faster during the day and mixes with the air above the surface, causing faster winds due to the transfer of momentum from higher in the atmosphere closer to the surface. With the warmer and stronger winds and little moisture, this means dried vegetation is the perfect fuel to start a wildfire.
Another reason for the burn bans is that 85% of wildfires across the nation are caused by humans. Remember, do not burn brush from 7am until 5pm and to put out any fire started outside the prohibited time before 7am the next day. This effort will reduce the fire season’s damage and continue to keep our state’s forests healthy.
