By Rick Steelhammer, HD Media
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several brush fires continued to smoke and smolder at scattered locations across southern West Virginia on Thursday and ran the risk of spreading as dry, breezy winds swept into the state in advance of the remnants of Tropical Storm Francine’s northwestward movement.
The National Weather Service issued an increased fire danger statement for most of the state Thursday, cautioning that wind gusts of 15-20 miles per hour and relative humidity readings in the 20s and 30s would increase wildfire potential across the area, and could cause existing wildfires to spread. The statement was in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday.
Firefighters brought a 51-acre forest fire near Pineville, in Wyoming County, and a 12- to 15-acre blaze near Chapmanville, in Logan, under control on Wednesday, according to State Forester Jeremy Jones.
Meanwhile, a small brushfire on a ridge near Holly Grove, in Kanawha County, that broke out on Monday continued to smolder on Thursday, as did a two-acre brush fire that broke out on Wednesday about 7 miles southeast of Oak Hill, in Fayette County.
Since July 1, small wildfires have burned about 250 acres of West Virginia forest land, according to the state Division of Forestry.
