Late spring into summer is the perfect time for sitting around the fire pit in the evening, or burning off the last of the debris from cleaning up your property for the year. And burn laws do change at the beginning of June.

“Starting on June 1st you can burn any time of the day. You are still required to stay with it the entire time. You’re required to have the minimum 10-foot safety strip around it. That’s what I would encourage the public is that if they do decide to burn during the summer months, especially July and August it gets very dry and we can have summer fires,” said West Virginia Division of Forestry Director Jeremy Jones.

Don’t let the recent long stretch of rain lull you into a false sense of security. Things were dry before that and can dry out again quickly.

Jones and his crew have good reason to want people to remain cautious. Despite stringent fire restrictions in the spring, WV MetroNews reports state forestry crews and volunteer fire companies dealt with 691 fires across the state from March 1 through May 31. That’s a little higher than the yearly average.

Though some of those fires were caused by lightning and downed power lines, others were caused by out-of-control debris pile burns and even arson. That kind of carelessness (or intent) damages property and can cost lives.

Burn restrictions are lifted in Ohio, now, too. But, as is the case everywhere, the need for vigilance remains. Changes in weather could lead to temporary bans at any time. And the story of one Northeast Ohio fireworks company reminds us how important it is to take every precaution, every time.

Wholesale Fireworks Corp. pyrotechnics were used during a gender reveal event in California, at which dry vegetation was ignited and the fire spread to the San Bernardino National Forest. A firefighter was killed battling that blaze, and the company ended up agreeing to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit.

That’s an extreme case, but if preserving life and property are not enough incentive, remember there ARE financial and other penalties associated with igniting a wildfire in both West Virginia and Ohio.

Use some common sense and follow the rules. You’ll be able to better enjoy your fully controlled and attended fires AND the rest of your summer.