West Virginia Fire Commission Has Failed for 50 Years to Make a Plan to Address High Fire Death Rate

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

West Virginia is one of the deadliest states for house fires, killing an average of 32 people per year between 2009 and 2023.

50 years on, fire commission has no prevention plan

West Virginia is one of the deadliest states for house fires, killing an average of 32 people per year between 2009 and 2023.  An audit of the State Fire Commission in December of 2025 noted that the commission hadn’t compiled a state-mandated plan to prevent these deaths.  Testifying before a Government Organization Committee in December, State Fire Marshal, Ken Tyree Jr. said that he did not realize his agency was supposed to produce one compr…