Dry Conditions Lead To No Burning Advisories In the Region

CATSKILL REGION - As drier than normal conditions continue, even with some rain on Tuesday, burn bans have been issued  in several counties, including Delaware, Greene and Schoharie counties. Delaware has issued the ban until further notice.

Delaware County Chairman Tina Molé issued a State of Emergency and instituted a countywide burn ban effective from Oct. 25 and continuing until rescinded by the Chairman of the Board.

In Schoharie County, Supervisor Chairman Bill Federice issued a ban until Nov. 1.

"A prolonged lack of rainfall has caused abnormally dry environmental conditions, and extended forecasting shows the lack of precipitation to continue at least over the next few days. Conditions include dry ground cover which has increased substantially with the time of year, leading to a significantly elevated risk of wildfires. Therefore, in the interest of public safety, a county-wide burn ban is being instated.

"The very dry environmental conditions exist, leading to the rapid spread of any open
fires. This burn ban is in effect for all open burning, including, but not limited to campfires, brush piles, burn barrels, wood stove ash dumping, leaf/yard debris, and
torches or other devices containing an open flame.

"Failure to obey this order is a criminal offense to wit; Class B misdemeanor, punishable by law under the NYS Executive Law, Article 2-B, the release states."

Those who may be dumping ashes from a wood stove are advised to put them in water and make sure there are no remaining embers.

Since the ban, some fire departments have been called to extinguish controlled burns and fire last week burned down a second home when the owners dumped ashes into a compost pile and despite dousing it with water, those embers still smoldering started to burn, spreading to the cabin and a shed and threatening the woods.