Facts:

• In 2000, there were 1,178 wildfires that burned more than 53,600 acres of West Virginia woodland, and caused $16 million in damage to the timber resource.
• In the last 10 years (1991 - 2000), there has been an average of 1,080 wildfires per year in West Virginia.  These fires burned an average of 65,435 acres in each of the 10 years.
• The total economic loss to the State from wildfires that occurred from 1991 - 2000, was $196,700,200.  This includes not only damage to forests, but damage to non-forested land, homes and other structures.
• Wildfire not only kills trees, but it destroys and damages all facets of the forest ecosystem.  Burned and damaged trees become more susceptible to disease and homes for wildlife are destroyed.  These wildfires cause severe soil erosion resulting in pollution and sedimentation of streams.  The smoke and ash from these wildfires also cause varying degrees of air pollution.
• The majority of wildfires in West Virginia occur in 10 southwestern counties in the states, a pattern that has not changed in the last 70 years.
• In the last 10 years (1991 - 2000), 35% of the wildfires in West Virginia were set by arsonists.  The second leading cause was debris burning at 32%, followed by equipment (12%), miscellaneous (7%), children (6%), smokers (4%), campfires (2%), railroad (1%), and lightening (1%).
• Underground mine fires, which are listed under "miscellaneous" causes, are a low percentage of the total number of fires but a very large amount of the acreage burned.
• Trees that have been burned in the past appear to be healthy and green, but damage has occurred, and it may be 20 years before the trees begin to die.  During this time, these trees are decaying inside.  These trees can never be harvested for quality timber.