Tag: West Virginia Division of Forestry

W.Va. Division of Forestry Facing Layoffs

West Virginia’s Division of Forestry will lay off 37 workers to address a $1.7 million shortfall in the new budget year.

A news release Wednesday says lawmakers rejected legislation to fully fund the Division of Forestry, and the $1.7 million shortfall will spur layoffs of more than one-third of the agency’s workforce.

The affected employees work in fire protection, logging and timber management programs.

The reduction includes the elimination of 42 positions, five of which are vacant, one is a part-time employee and 36 are full-time. The layoffs will be determined by least seniority.

The release says the timber industry fought for a lower severance tax than Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin proposed this year.

It says lawmakers passed the lower tax and a budget shortfall followed, spurring the layoffs.

West Virginia Forest Fire Season Begins, Burning Limited

West Virginia’s spring forest fire season has started with limits on outside burning now in effect.

The season began Tuesday and runs through May 31. Outside burning is only allowed between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. Burning also is limited to brush, leaves, yard clippings and other vegetative materials.

The West Virginia Division of Forestry says residents could faces fines if a fire they started escapes and causes a wildfire or forest fire. Fines range from $100 to $1,000.

State law requires a safety strip or ring at least 10 feet wide around outdoor fires to prevent them from spreading into woods.

Foresters Say This Is Last Good Weekend for Leaf-Peeping

The West Virginia Division of Forestry says this weekend offers the last good opportunity for viewing fall foliage across the state.

The State Journal reports that the division released its final fall foliage report of 2015 Thursday.

Foresters report great color along the ridges of Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties in the Eastern Panhandle. They also recommend the main canopy in Hampshire County and mountainous sections of Hardy County. Good viewing opportunities also remain in Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer and Wyoming counties.

The division says most of the remaining foliage in the state is past peak as recent rains and wind have taken a toll.

West Virginia Fire Crew Member on Fighting Oregon Fires

Although cooler weather and rain have led to some progress in recent days, there are more than 1,000 firefighters still battling seven major fires in…

Although cooler weather and rain have led to some progress in recent days, there are more than 1,000 firefighters still battling seven major fires in Oregon. The Canyon Creek Complex fire is the biggest of those, with about 110,000 acres burning and more than 550 firefighters working on it.  Firefighters from the West Virginia Division of Forestry were recently in Oregon, lending assistance in fighting the massive fires there.

Fire Staff Assistance Jeremy Jones is a 12 year veteran of the state’s forest fire fighting team. Walt Jackson has been with the division for 22 years and is the Assistant State Forester for Forest Protection.  We sat down with both men yesterday to talk about the work of fighting fires here and in other states.

West Virginians Head to California to Fight Wildfires

A group of West Virginians are on their way to California to help fight wildfires in the northern part of the state.

 
A 20-person wild land firefighting crew left Charleston Monday to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. Sixteen West Virginia Division of Forestry staff members and four specially trained volunteer firefighters make up the crew that will serve a 14-day tour of duty.

 
The crew is scheduled to fly from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to California Tuesday.

 
Forestry officials said the crew hasn’t been assigned to a specific fire yet.

 
Director and State Forester Randy Dye called them an excellent crew and said the state is proud to send them to California as representatives.

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