| An old World War II bunker located on a state wildlife preserve in Mason County exploded in May, causing the West State Fire Marshal to have the WV-DNR close the area.
The McClintic Wildlife Management Area, according to officials, constitutes a danger to life or property from the hazards of fire or explosion.
The active storage bunkers were originally built by the U.S. Army to store munitions during World War II.
In 1949 these lands were deeded to the State of West Virginia by the U.S. Army for the purpose of fish and wildlife conservation.
The DNR now leases several of these bunkers for storage purposes to private individuals and companies.
Approximately 175 acres of the McClintic WMA will be affected by this closure, said Curtis Taylor, Chief of the DNR's Wildlife Resources Section.
The remainder of the 3,655-acre wildlife management area will continue to be open for public use.
| 
