Burn ban issued for Raleigh County, ‘to protect the property and lives of the citizens’

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A county-wide burn ban was approved by members of the Raleigh County Commission during Tuesday morning’s Regular Session meeting of the commission.

Beaver Volunteer Fire Department Chief and President of the Raleigh County Fire Chiefs Association, Jason Redden was on-hand for the meeting to put forth details of the proposed ban for commission members.

“According to the latest information…Raleigh County is in a deep, very extreme drought situation at this time,” said Redden. “Other counties around us are following suit. We, the fire chiefs, came together and feel that it is necessary to ask the commission to institute a total burn ban in the county to protect the property and lives of the citizens in Raleigh County.”

A number of exceptions to the proposed ban were also presented and include:

Liquid-fueled gas grills, lanterns, or liquid-fueled gas fire stoves

Fires for outdoor cooking conducted for fundraising events and charitable organizations provided a water source capable of extinguishing the fire is present and for which the appropriate permit is obtained through the West Virginia Division of Forestry prior to burning

Fires for commercial land clearing such as mining, construction, and development for which the appropriate permit is obtained through the West Virginia Division of Forestry

Fires for highway construction and development for which the appropriate permit is obtained through the West Virginia Division of Forestry

Fires for the purpose of chemical production, whereas fire is essential to operation

Training fires conducted under direct control and supervision of qualified instructors at a training facility operated by the fire department or government entity for which the appropriate permit is obtained through the West Virginia Division of Forestry

The ban comes in the wake of several incidents of brush fires and other such incidents throughout the Raleigh County area in recent weeks.

Tuesday’s session also saw the adoption of Grievance Procedures for Raleigh County along with the appointment of a Grievance Coordinator for the county, a role designated to Raleigh County Administrator Jay Quesenberry.