Caledonia, N.Y.—In an effort to keep wildfires from burning, the state has banned brush burning for 90 days. The announcement came three days ago and now residents must wait until October 10th to burn brush.
“These conditions should not be taken lightly, Governor Cuomo said. “The potential for disastrous wildfires is present in all areas of the state and we must do whatever we can to prevent fires from occurring,” Cuomo continued.
Many towns and villages have strict rules concerning brush burning if it’s allowed at all.
The Department of Environmental Conservation traditionally outlaws burning from March to May, but last week’s announcement means an extension of the ban.
“If you’re in a town of less than 20,000 population and you’re considering burning brush, you can’t do that until October 11th,” said Thomas Marriott, Regional Air Pollution Control Engineer for the DEC.
Recreational burning is not included in the ban, but the state is asking people to refrain from any unnecessary outdoor burning until October 10th.
Fines for violating the ban can range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000 according to the DEC.
