West Virginia Code
Article 3. Forests and Wildlife Areas
§20-3-6. Failure of Person to Extinguish Fire Started or Used by Him or Her; Throwing Lighted Material on Forest Land; Enforcement by State Fire Marshal; Penalties


(a) Any person who, by himself or herself, or by his or her employees, agents or guides, or as an employee, agent or guide of any other person, shall at any time build or use any fire in any field, in any public or private road, or in any area adjacent to or in any forest land in this state, shall, before leaving the fire for any period of time, totally extinguish the same.
(b) A person shall not at any time throw or place any lighted match, cigar, cigarette, firecracker or lighted material on any forest land, private road, public highway or railroad right-of-way within this state.
(c) In addition to any other law-enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction over criminal violations, the State Fire Marshal shall enforce this section as provided in 15A-10-1 et seq. of this code.
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to one or more of the following penalties: (1) Fined not less than $100 nor more than $2,000; (2) confined in the county or regional jail not less than 10 days nor more than 200 days; or (3) sentenced to perform community service by cleaning up litter from any public highway, road, street, alley or any other public park or public property or waters of the state, as designated by the court, for not less than 32 hours nor more than 64 hours.

Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 20. Natural Resources

Article 3. Forests and Wildlife Areas

§20-3-2. Acquisition of Suitable Lands by Director; Maintenance Thereof as State Forests or Wildlife Areas; Relinquishment of Construction and Maintenance of Roads to the Commissioner of Highways

§20-3-3. Establishment of Wildlife Areas; Leasing Lands Therefor

§20-3-3a. Cabwaylingo Pilot Project

§20-3-4. Authority and Duties of Director of the Division of Forestry and Others as to Forest Fires; Expenditures for Forest Fire Control; Limited Liability of Certain Persons Fighting Forest Fires

§20-3-5. Forest Fire Seasons; Prohibited and Permissible Fires; Burning Permits and Fees; Fire Control Measures; Criminal and Civil Penalties

§20-3-5a. Prescribed Fire Program

§20-3-6. Failure of Person to Extinguish Fire Started or Used by Him or Her; Throwing Lighted Material on Forest Land; Enforcement by State Fire Marshal; Penalties

§20-3-7. Starting Fire on Lands of Another; Penalties

§20-3-8. Duty of Railroad Company to Protect Against Fires

§20-3-9. Right of Railroad Company to Clear Land Adjacent to Right-of-Way

§20-3-10. Spark Arresters for Sawmills, etc.; Risk and Hazard Reduction to Protect Against Fires; Underground Coal Fires

§20-3-11. Recovery of Costs Incurred in Fighting Fires; Landowners Responsibility to Extinguish Fires

§20-3-12. Timberland and Forest Land Defined

§20-3-13. Director Authorized to Secure Federal Cooperation; Annual Appropriation

§20-3-14. Financial Assistance From Owners of Forest Lands; Expenditures by Director

§20-3-15. Owner Not Relieved From Civil Liability for Damage From Fire

§20-3-16. Prima Facie Evidence of Negligence in Certain Actions for Injury Due to Fires

§20-3-17. Disposition of Proceeds of National Forests

§20-3-17a. Same -- Counties Embracing Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area

§20-3-18. Disposition of Flood Control, Navigation and Allied Funds From the Federal Government

§20-3-19. Protection of Forests Against Destructive Insects and Diseases; Purposes and Intent of Section

§20-3-20. Governor's Authority to Execute

§20-3-21. When and How Compact Becomes Operative

§20-3-22. Compact Administration; Advisory Committee

§20-3-23. Compact Committee Powers and Duties; Cooperation Therewith

§20-3-24. Other Powers of State Forester Supplementary

§20-3-25. Governor's Authority to Execute

§20-3-26. When and How Compact Becomes Operative

§20-3-27. Compact Administration

§20-3-28. Compact Committee Powers and Duties; Cooperation Therewith

§20-3-29. Other Powers Supplementary