NEW YORK STATE (NEWS10) — A statewide burn ban begins on Sunday, March 16 and lasts through May 14. It’s enforced every year in an effort to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires each spring.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation spoke about the burn ban and encouraged all New Yorkers to take caution when lighting fires. They advise to clear all flammable material within three feet of a fire and never leave a fire unattended.
Officials said more people are enjoying time outdoors this time of year and burning brush in their backyards, which is how many fires get out of hand.
“When most people think of spring, they’re thinking of mud season, and in reality, even if the ground is saturated, the vegetation — the grasses, the leaves from last year — are all being exposed to the sun, because the leaves we would normally have on the trees in the summer aren’t able to shade that understory,” Lt. Tyler Mitchell, supervising forest ranger in the Division of Forest Protection, explained.
Those caught violating the burn ban could face a minimum fine of $500.
Read the latest from NEWS10:
- 5 arrested following drug bust in Cohoes
- Another state looks to ban this common question drivers are asked every day
- The veterans for third-ranked UConn have fought through the pain to return in time for March Madness
- The line-swapping hack at Disney, Universal and Six Flags that all parents should know about
- United Airlines gate agent punched in face at Dulles International Airport; passenger arrested
NEWS10 is the Capital Region’s local news leader!