CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- It may not seem very springlike with cold temperatures and snowfall across West Virginia, but spring forest fire season begins Tuesday.
Through the end of May, all outdoor burning will be prohibited during daytime hours and will be legal only from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.
''Spring is an especially dangerous time for forest fires in West Virginia because landowners take advantage of warm, dry weather to burn debris that has accumulated over the fall and winter months, said state Forester Randy Dye.
Last year's spring fire season was one of the mildest on record, according to the state Division of Forestry.
Approximately 4,200 acres burned throughout the state last spring as a result of 500 wildfires.
In 2003, 669 fires burned nearly 8,400 acres, and 959 fires burned more than 10,000 acres the year before. The 2001 season was particularly bad: more than 86,000 acres were burned in 887 fires.
Of last spring's fires, almost half were caused by carelessness when debris burns were allowed to escape. Arson accounted for another 24 percent. Other causes included equipment use, railroads, smokers and children.
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