BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -Now, Spring is just around the corner and there are some rules for outside burning now in-effect.
An outdoor burn ban for West Virginia went into effect on March 1st running through May 31st.
The West Virginia Division of Forestry says burning is prohibited during the daytime hours of 7am until 5pm.
If you do burn during the evening hours you are required to have a water source close and have a ten-foot-wide safety strip free of burnable materials.
You also are required to stay with your fire until it is completely out.
Bluefield Fire Department Lieutenant Bryan Carr tells us thar If you burn and you don’t follow the rules or if the fire should spread and cause damage, you could be held responsible.
“You can get fined for burning in the time you’re not supposed to be. If it does break out and it causes a bigger fire like we’ve seen out in California, Gatlinburg a couple of years ago, you can be billed Heavily for that”
Carr adds that if you have any questions, you can contact the West Virginia Division of Forestry or check with your local fire department.
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