Burn ban lifted in Kanawha County, but burning still prohibited in at least one local municipality

The Kanawha County Commission lifted the county-wide burn ban on Wednesday, Sept. 25. The ban remains in Nitro, Fire Dept. officials said.Photo byNitro Fire Department

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha County Commission has lifted a county-wide burn ban, but at least one local municipality has chosen to keep the ban in place – for now.

“This week, the county has received a reasonable amount of rain,” commissioners wrote in a statement announcing the lifting of the county-wide prohibition. “With more rain on the way, the commissioners felt it was safe to lift the burn ban.”

The ban was lifted on Sept. 25

On Wednesday, the Nitro Fire Department announced that the burning prohibition would continue within their community.

“Despite the recent rain, more dry weather is in the forecast,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Nitro Fire Chief Mathes is continuing the outdoor open flame burning ban within city limits.”

The latest map released Thursday morning from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that western and central portions of Kanawha County are experiencing exceptional drought, a catalayst in the ban. The rest of the county continues to undergo extreme drought.

The Kanawha Valley received some rain on Wednesday and Thursday. The National Weather Service in Charleston predicts more rain for Friday through Monday, with daily precipitation chances between 40-70 percent. A hazardous weather statement for the area notes the possibility of localized flooding due to the potential for excessive rainfall.

The county-wide burn ban, now lifted, first took effect on Friday, Sept. 20.

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