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

An audit conducted in December 2025 revealed that the West Virginia State Fire Commission has failed for 50 years to compile a state-mandated plan to address the state's high fire death rate.

West Virginia ranks as one of the deadliest states in the country for house fires. Between 2009 and 2023, fires in the state resulted in an average of 32 fatalities per year.