DEC announces burn ban starting March 16

ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) -- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Basil Seggos announced on Thursday, February 29, that the annual brush burning ban will go into effect on Saturday, March 16, and will run through Tuesday, May 14.

“While we are seeing record-breaking fires in Texas right now, we are also at a higher risk here in New York,” Commissioner Seggos said in a statement. "Before the annual burn ban goes into effect next month, we are encouraging New Yorkers who burn woody debris to do it carefully. Do not burn on windy days, and have water or equipment ready to extinguish it. All fires must be attended until completely out.”

Put into effect every spring since 2009, the DEC has enforced the burn ban to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. Between 2009 and 2017, the average number of spring fires over the eight years afterward dropped by just under 43% in New York State.

Due to the dry winter this season, the risk of fires is higher than ever.

"Without the snowpack, fuels are much more readily available... they dry out quicker, especially on sunny, windy days," New York State Forest Rangers Lieutenant Timothy Carpenter said in a statement. "The concern is that without that snowpack, we might have an earlier fire season."

Regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year between May and February. Backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet by four feet are allowed, as are small cooking fires. As for fuel for those fires, the DEC says that charcoal or wood is dry, clean, untreated, and unpainted.

"For New York State, the burn ban is important because most of our fires are human-caused fires," Carpenter said in a statement. "During that burn ban, from March 15 to May 15, our fuels are much more receptive to wildland fire. They are dried out through the wind, and there is direct radiant heat on them from the sun, not just in the grass but also in the woods because we do not have our leaf canopy on our trees yet. So even the forest floor is receiving more direct radiant heat from the sun, making those fuels much more receptive during that burn ban period."

Some towns in New York State -- specifically around the Adirondack and Catskill parks -- are designated "fire towns." These are towns where open burning is prohibited without a permit from the DEC. Violators of the open burning regulations are subject to criminal and civil penalties. A first offense brings with it a fine of $500.

Carpenter also offered advice for homeowners who become victims of a potential wildfire.

"It would be good to have homeowners just remember that grass burns very hot and fast," Carpenter said. "It is not always the best idea to try and take direct action on that fire. Leave that to the professionals. We do not want to see homeowners get injured trying to fight a fast-moving grass fire in the spring."

For more information on the burn ban or to report illegal activity, visit the DEC website or call the Forest Rangers at 1-833-697-7264.