CHARLESTON, W.Va . (WSAZ) - As smoke billows in the air from brush fires in the region, crews are keeping a close eye on the risk of more starting.

“As fires increase in frequency,” Assistant Regional Forester for Region Five with the West Virginia Division of Forestry Charlie Spencer said, “we have to deploy resources. Our guys don’t get the weekend off.”

Spencer said in the last couple days there has been an increase in brush fires. As leaves fall from the trees and pile up, Spencer says the one drying out the ground quicker pose a greater risk for fires.

“Temperature and wind and sunlight, those three factors really affect fire starts and they affect how big fires get,” Spencer said.

He said it’s been a slow start with around 45 fires so far in just a few counties, but Saturday’s

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