NEW YORK STATE— The annual brush burning ban starts in New York State on Saturday, March 16. With a relatively mild winter, officials are issuing a warning about the heightened conditions for wildfires this spring.
The ban ends May 14. Open burning of debris is the single largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. Department of Environmental Conservation officials said the ban decreases those risks by 40 percent, increases air quality, and saves emergency resources.
Grills, cooking fires, and campfires under three feet tall are still allowed. Anyone found in violation of the ban will face a $500 fine.
