Statewide Burn Ban Begins March 16

By Liz Page

With the warm temperatures and melting snow this week, local fire officials are concerned about people who may see fit to burn lawn and other debris and are getting the word out about the annual statewide ban on burning.

No open burning is allowed from March 16 to May 14, to allow time for green vegetation to grow.

Since the burn ban was initiated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2009, the number of wildfires in the state has decreased by 43 percent.

The risk for wildfires in the spring is heightened by the rapid snow melt and drying of dead vegetation. Most wildfires occur in the spring, when people are anxious to get outdoors and clean up fallen limbs and other debris. Even debris placed in a burn barrel can send embers afield or create a contact fire that can spread rapidly, usually fanned by the wind. Burning in burn barrels is also prohibited.

Just last week, a fire on Long Island was sparked by someone using cardboard to make smores in the backyard. It drew 30 different fire companies, damaged two buildings and was threatening homes before it was contained. A burn ban is already in effect downstate.

Wildfires are not just a California event and in an effort to protect communities and natural resources, New York prohibits residential burning for two months starting on March 16, when dry conditions are highest. Help DEC put safety first and continue to reduce the number of wildfires in New York's communities by following the burn ban.

DEC has posted a Fire Danger Map rating for the 2025fire season on DEC's website https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/wildfires/fire-danger-map once there is a moderate risk anywhere in the state.

Campfires using charcoal or untreated wood are allowed, but people should never leave them unattended and must extinguish them completely. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC’s FIREWISE New York website.

Forest Rangers, DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), and local authorities will be enforcing the burn ban.

To report environmental law violations call 1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332), or report online on DEC’s website.Violators of the State's open burning regulation are subject to criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. To reduce fire danger, residents are encouraged to remove leaves and debris from areas close to their homes.