CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia fire officials are worried people may be planning to celebrate July 4th with personal fireworks displays, and they're strongly advising against it.
Deputy State Fire Marshal Carol Nolte says the risk of fire is too high in the aftermath of a storm that still has nearly 348,000 people waiting for power.
Conditions across the state are extremely dry. The brown, crunchy lawns were already fuel, but Nolte says the downed trees and limbs add even more potential tinder.
At the same time, water is in short supply in many areas. Nolte says several fire departments have already called, saying they worry they won't have enough water to douse any fires that start.
Fire marshals also warn people not to burn trees or any other debris from the storm.
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In Virginia, forestry officials are urging caution this July 4th as well, with many areas of the state recording below-average rainfall and vulnerable to wildfires.
John Miller of the Virginia Department of Forestry says those areas are slowly drying out, meaning fireworks, bonfires or cookouts can easily torch brush and grass.
The director of the department's resource protection recommends that Virginians leave fireworks to the professionals.
The forestry department oversees nearly 16 million acres of forestland in Virginia.
