West Virginia Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for West Virginia - July 23, 2026

Overview

West Virginia is currently experiencing a very low wildland fire risk due to recent heavy rainfall and historic flooding across parts of the state. While the local fire danger is minimal, the National Preparedness Level has been elevated to 5—the highest level of national response—due to severe and highly active wildfire seasons in the Western United States. Local firefighting and emergency resources in West Virginia are currently focused on severe weather monitoring, flood response, and managing air quality impacts from out-of-state fires.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Over the last 72 hours, there have been no significant wildland fires reported in West Virginia. The combination of frequent showers, thunderstorms, and high atmospheric moisture has effectively suppressed ignition risks. Emergency crews have, however, been managing the aftermath and environmental impacts of a massive industrial warehouse fire in Parkersburg (Wood County) that occurred earlier this month, which required shelter-in-place orders due to hazardous smoke.

Key Fires:
There are currently no major active wildland fires burning in West Virginia. When wildland fires do occur in this region, they are typically fueled by hardwood leaf litter, timber, and understory brush. At present, these fuels are thoroughly saturated from recent heavy precipitation and localized flooding.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management:
The West Virginia Division of Forestry's statutory restricted burning seasons run from March 1 through May 31 and October 1 through December 31. While we are currently outside of the restricted season, widespread prescribed burning operations are generally paused during the active summer growing season and due to the wet conditions. In recent land management news, new state legislation (Senate Bill 886) was passed to establish a simple negligence standard for certified prescribed fire managers and expand the use of prescribed fire to private property. This will promote better controlled burning practices to reduce future wildfire risks and improve forest health once weather conditions allow.

Air Quality:
Despite the lack of local wildfires, air quality remains a concern. Air Quality Alerts (Code Orange and Code Red) have been issued over the last 72 hours for the eastern West Virginia Panhandle—including Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties—due to fine particulate matter from out-of-state wildfire smoke drifting into the region. Concentrations of this smoke can reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: A State of Emergency was recently declared for parts of West Virginia following historic flooding. Flash Flood Warnings and Flood Statements remain in effect across several counties as scattered thunderstorms and heavy rain continue to impact the region.
Forecasted Weather: There are currently no Red Flag Warnings or fire weather watches in effect for West Virginia. Elevated humidity, persistent cloud cover, and continued chances for heavy rain will keep the fire danger very low over the next 72 hours.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents in the eastern Panhandle should monitor local air quality indices closely. Sensitive groups—including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions—should minimize strenuous outdoor activities during Code Orange or Red alerts. Additionally, all residents should remain weather-aware regarding ongoing flash flood threats.
Resource Allocation: With wildland fire activity at a minimum, local agencies and first responders are prioritizing flood water rescues, infrastructure repair, and hazardous materials monitoring.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
West Virginia Division of Forestry: wvforestry.com
West Virginia Emergency Management Division: emd.wv.gov

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.