West Virginia fire commission has failed for 50 years to make a plan to address high fire death rate

West Virginia has consistently been one of the deadliest states in the nation for house fires, averaging 32 fatalities per year between 2009 and 2023. In a recent audit, the State Fire Commission was found to have failed to create a plan to address this alarming death rate. State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree Jr. admitted he was unaware that his agency was mandated to produce such a plan.

The commission was established in 1976 to develop a comprehensive fire prevention and control strategy, including manpower assessment, training center location, water sources, public education, and more. Despite this, the commission has not produced a state-mandated plan over the past 50 years. Auditors have repeatedly pointed out that the commission lacks a plan to address the state's high fire death rate, which is driven by factors such as poverty, smoking rates, an aging population, and old houses.

In recent years, Tyree's office has been working on a plan that targets high-risk areas and focuses on recruitment for volunteer fire stations. The document is currently undergoing final review and will be submitted for public review ahead of the Fall 2026 legislative interim sessions.