The windy weather brings concern for brush fire

Charleston, W.Va. (Wsaz) – A windy week has led to several brush fires in the region.

“If it's windy, they just don't burn,” said Charlie Spencer, Division of West Virginia of the Forestry Region 5 Assistant Regional Forester.

With the windy conditions that are expected this weekend, the West Virginia division for forestry and local fire brigades calls for people to be careful during the fire season.

“You want to make sure that all leaves are blown from your garden. You want to make sure you don't burn near the slope, ”said Spencer.

The fire chief of South Charleston, Virgil White, said: “Use water, use dirt. You want to make sure that you really saturate where you burned just so that you don't have the potential to have another fire. “

Spencer says you have to observe the fire at any time and make sure it is complete.

“Simply make sure that you don't see a glowing embers. If you can put your hand next to it and do not feel the heat from it, you are probably pretty good. “

Spencer said that at this time of year fire had a greater chance of spreading when sheets are on the floor.

“When the leaves are off the trees, it means that the sun can hit the forest floor directly, it dries out the leaves faster and then we have more fire in the end.”

Chief White says that if it is windy enough, the rain potential for rain does not always help.

“It may not be saturated as you would think, so the wind will also dry out things so that there is still a problem,” said White.

The division of forestry said that if you decide to start a fire, you are aware that it can cause others.

“This fire belongs to them and if it escapes what they do and damages the property or life of someone else, they are liable for it.”

According to Spencer, the wind can cause problems with the containment of fires, and they often have to wait until the wind dies down to get back to work.

The division of forestry said that the burning was limited between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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