{"id":"us-wv","slug":"west-virginia","name":"West Virginia","license":"CC-BY-4.0","placeNode":"/places/us-wv.json","construction":{"reviewStatus":"none","applications":[],"localApplications":[],"requirements":[],"sources":[{"title":"87CSR4 State Building Code","url":"https://firemarshal.wv.gov/media/39311/download?inline=","publisher":"West Virginia State Fire Commission","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}]},"localAuthorities":[],"claims":{"exact":[{"id":"guide:fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows:2","anchor":"local-us-wv-fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows-2","place":"WVDOF fall fire awareness (October 2021)","placeId":"us-wv","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"Autumn seeps into the air, bringing cooler nights, shorter days and lower humidity. As chlorophyll production drops, the green fades from leaves, which turn glorious gold, red, orange – or dull brown – before falling. The drier air and vegetation add up to potential fuel for wildfires. Fall fire season starts October 1 and runs through December 31 every year. Limit outdoor burning to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. In fall 2019, West Virginia recorded 305 fires which burned 4,098 acres. Fall 2020: 238 fires burning 2,877 acres. Over the past 10 years, 35% of all wildfires reported in the state have been caused by people losing control of their debris fires. Region 1: fires in steep areas can be difficult to access and control. Region 2: if a dry fall, fires burn deeper in the ground; fires in steep, rocky terrain that are inaccessible get big. Region 4: spring may have a higher number of fires compared to fall, but more land burns in fall; the fall fire season burns more acreage due to the abundance of fuel in the woods from dried dead leaves. All of southern West Virginia is steep terrain. Region 6: most of our fires are in hardwood leaf litter, with some pine clear cuts mixed in.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows","title":"Fall fire season in hardwood hollows","url":"/guides/fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows/"},"source":{"title":"Fall fire awareness heats up during cool, dry autumn","url":"https://wvforestry.com/fall-fire-awareness-heats-up-during-cool-dry-autumn/","publisher":"West Virginia Division of Forestry","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","documentDate":"2021-10-01T00:00:00.000Z"}},{"id":"guide:fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows:1","anchor":"local-us-wv-fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows-1","place":"West Virginia forest fire seasons (§20-3-5)","placeId":"us-wv","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"March 1 through May 31, and October 1 through December 31 are designated as forest fire seasons. During any fire season, a person may set on fire or cause to be set on fire any forest land, or any grass, grain, stubble, slash, debris, or other inflammable materials only between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m., at which time the fire must be extinguished. Small attended fires for food, light, or warmth with debris removed 10 feet, and burning when the ground is covered by one inch or more of snow, are permitted without a permit unless a burning ban is in effect. A person shall remove all flammable material from the area immediately surrounding the material to be burned for a distance which ensures the fire will at all times be contained; this safety strip shall in no event be less than 10 feet wide. Violation is a misdemeanor, fine not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, plus a $200 civil penalty.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows","title":"Fall fire season in hardwood hollows","url":"/guides/fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows/"},"source":{"title":"West Virginia Code §20-3-5. Forest fire seasons; prohibited and permissible fires","url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-3-5/","publisher":"West Virginia Legislature","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"}},{"id":"guide:fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows:3","anchor":"local-us-wv-fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows-3","place":"WVDOF Fire in the Mountain State brochure","placeId":"us-wv","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"The Mountain State is covered with rich, hardwood forests. Forest fire danger is present throughout the year, but most wildfires in West Virginia occur in spring and fall. During these two seasons, the Mountain State’s usually moist forests dry out quickly on warm, windy days, making the leaves, twigs, branches and brush on the forest floor ample fuel for a fire. March through May is the Spring Forest Fire Season and October through December is the Fall Forest Fire Season. Unlike wildfires in the western United States that are often started by lightning, 99 percent of West Virginia’s forest fires are caused by humans. Two major causes: escaped debris fires and arson. Eastern hardwood forests comprised of ash, yellow poplar, beech, maple and cherry are easily damaged by fire, resulting in reduced quality of timber, and often mortality in smaller trees. Large hardwood trees are not actually killed by wildfire but do receive damage to the base of their trunks. The Division of Forestry estimates that for every acre of forestland burned by wildfire, the state loses $300 of potential revenue. In 2001, more than 89,000 acres of forestland were burned by wildfires – an estimated loss of $26.7 million. Brochure restriction line prints 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; live Fire Burning Guidelines and §20-3-5 use 5 p.m. as the evening start.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows","title":"Fall fire season in hardwood hollows","url":"/guides/fall-fire-season-in-hardwood-hollows/"},"source":{"title":"Fire in the Mountain State (wildfire protection brochure)","url":"https://wvforestry.com/pdf/DOF_fire_brochure.pdf","publisher":"West Virginia Division of Forestry","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"}},{"id":"guide:why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower:1","anchor":"local-us-wv-why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower-1","place":"West Virginia Division of Forestry statewide plant-list edition","placeId":"us-wv","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"exact","scopeRef":null,"claim":"The following list contains landscape plants that can be grown in West Virginia, are commercially available, and are relatively resistant to fire. There is no such thing as a fireproof plant; however, these species exhibit a stronger resistance to ignition by wildfires. The list is not comprehensive, but rather a guide to some suggested fire resistant species. The source says exotic-invasive species were removed and marks species native to West Virginia with N. Its Rudbeckia hirta row retains the comment State flower of Maryland, making its shared state-edition lineage visible.","asOf":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower","title":"Why West Virginia's plant list still names Maryland's state flower","url":"/guides/why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower/"},"source":{"title":"Firewise Landscaping Plants for West Virginia","url":"https://wvforestry.com/pdf/Firewise%20Landscaping%20Plants%20for%20WV.pdf","publisher":"West Virginia Division of Forestry","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z"}}],"local":[]},"placeFocusedGuides":[{"id":"why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower","title":"Why West Virginia's plant list still names Maryland's state flower","url":"/guides/why-west-virginias-list-still-names-marylands-state-flower/"}],"findings":[],"plants":{"grain":"state","total":792,"nativeDocumented":0,"invasiveOrNoxiousFlagged":172,"fireResistant":437,"keepAway":132,"conflicts":42,"page":"/grow/west-virginia/"},"fireEvidencePublicationScope":{"answerGrain":"typed-state-source","sourceCount":1}}