Multiple forest fires put communities at risk

LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Two separate wildfires have spread through the forest in the Whitman Creek and Stallings areas of Logan County, putting businesses and neighborhoods at risk.

The Logan Fire Chief said they were the first to respond to a brush fire behind some homes outside of town around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Crews are battling wildfires in southern West Virginia.

“We’re probably on about 100 acres now. The wind blows directly towards the city. All of this fire spread will be suppressed right in our residential neighborhoods,” said Fire Chief Scott Beckett.

Warren Smith owns P&A Auto Repair, and his business is right in front of the hillside where the fires are being fought.

“It can make you nervous because there is a lot of dry grass and there are leaves and dead trees on the hill. As soon as they fall, embers fly towards your building and it makes you a little nervous.”

Smith’s family and friends live where the fire started. He said taking precautions is important for residents and his business.

“Try to keep all the leaves out of the back, try to keep anything that might burn and then before we leave tonight we’ll get it wet, try to cut it off if we can,” Smith said.

Beckett said the drought and wind could make it easy for fires to spread to residential areas.

“It’s an unnecessary thing; people really need to take a little more precaution and not engage in outdoor burning until there’s significant rainfall,” he said.

The forestry department is still trying to determine whether the burns were legal while trying to mitigate the fires and keep them away from local businesses.

Local and state officials urge everyone to be careful and follow guidelines.