Kanawha Commission: ‘We implore people not to burn’; deputies tasked with enforcing request

A fire burns brush in the woods on Robinson Hollow near Frame last week. The Kanawha Comission has requested a county-wide burn ban.Photo byPinch Volunteer Fire Department

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha County Commission is asking citizens not to burn anything this week, citing ongoing hazardous weather conditions.

“We implore people not to burn this week,” commissioners said in a statement released Tuesday.

On Monday, commission representatives sent a letter to the West Virginia Division of Forestry and to Gov. Jim Justice’s office requesting a burn ban in the county.

Commissioners said that the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office had been notified about the ban request.

“Deputies will be out to enforce the burn ban,” commissioners said. “We must protect property, citizens and most importantly, keep our first responders out of harm's way.”

As previously reported on NewsBreak, ongoing extreme drought, with dry vegetation and dry, brittle leaves, has caused brush fires to spark throughout the region. One recent fire in the Shrewsbury area of eastern Kanawha County is reportedly under control but still burning.

On Monday, the National Weather Service in Charleston issued a special weather statement warning of an increased chance of dangerous blazes.

The latest map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows all Kanawha County under extreme drought conditions. The county remains under a state of emergency because of drought. The emergency order, signed by Gov. Justice, was first announced in July. It was extended on August 23 and remains in effect in all 55 West Virginia counties.

While the local region received some rain on Tuesday, the threat of fire remains high. Commissioners warn Kanawha County residents against igniting a blaze, accidental or otherwise.

“Make sure cigarettes are completely out before disposal,” commissioners said. “Burning trash is illegal and should never happen.”

Commissioners encourage county residents to take advantage of the two remaining county cleanups to dispose of rubbish. Debris, recyclables, old appliances, tires and metal will be accepted for free at the events. Cleanup dates and locations include:

• Saturday, Sept. 21: South Charleston at the intersection ofFourth Avenue and C Street
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Cabin Creek at 15127 MacCorkle Avenue

Both cleanups run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.