X

With extra dry conditions heightening fire danger, Gov. Cuomo announces 90-day burn ban

Posted 7/14/12

With large swaths of New York State and the North Country enduring dry weather conditions which have heightened the danger of all sorts of fires, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a 90-day statewide …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

With extra dry conditions heightening fire danger, Gov. Cuomo announces 90-day burn ban

Posted

With large swaths of New York State and the North Country enduring dry weather conditions which have heightened the danger of all sorts of fires, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a 90-day statewide residential burn ban.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation earlier this week issued a “High Fire Danger” warning for the Adirondacks and surrounding areas, warning campers to take care with campfires or, even better, not to make campfires at all. Forest Rangers attested to the speed with which recent fires spread, but the blazes were contained.

Friday, Cuomo urged all New Yorkers to take extra caution, and to comply with the burn ban.

“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. The state will continue to closely monitor the wildfire danger and we will deploy whatever resources are necessary to protect New Yorkers should a critical situation occur.”

As a result of the mild winter with relatively little snowfall, plus areas of the state which have received only 25 percent of the normal spring and early summer rainfall, wildfire danger is heightened. Current weather forecasts are predicting above normal temperatures, elevating the risk.

Wildfires can start many ways, spread rapidly, and increase quickly in intensity. The governor urged New Yorkers to take extra caution and do the following:

· Refrain from starting any type of outdoor fire and in cases where a fire must be started, take extreme caution.

· Be watchful and keep a close eye when grilling outdoors.

· For those who smoke, make sure a lit cigarette is completely extinguished.

· When camping, use existing campfire rings when possible and keep fires small.

· Scrape away litter, duff, and any burnable material within a 10 foot diameter circle. This will keep the campfire from spreading.

· Never leave a campfire unattended.

· Drown the fire with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Stir the remains, add more water, and stir again.

· Use a cooking stove instead of a campfire to prepare meals.

At the governor’s direction, several steps have been taken to prepare the state for the increased danger of fires.

The New York State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Albany is closely monitoring the situation. Representatives from the Office of Emergency Management (State OEM), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) will staff the state EOC continuously as necessary.

An emergency regulation has been issued to ban residential brush burning through Oct. 10. Violators are subject to criminal and civil enforcement. In addition, the Department of Environmental Conservation will suspend all burning permits previously issued. A moratorium on new permits is now in effect through Oct. 10.

For more information on preventing wildfires, visit http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/event/brush-fire.cfm.