Fire season is active despite the burn ban

Even with a burn ban imposed Monday, hundreds of acres of woodland are on fire now amid drought conditions in southern West Virginia. Under dry weather conditions, low water levels in some towns and fire activity, Gov. Jim Justice banned most outdoor burning Nov. 4. Eyewitness News said some 5,000 acres have been impacted during fall fire season, which restricts burning hours starting October 1. Five separate, apparently set blazes in Mingo County, are expected to grow into one big fire on an isolated ridgeline. Forestry officials have been dealing with blazes in Kanawha, Boone, Fayette, Wyoming, Mingo , Lincoln and Logan counties.