Red Flag Warning till 6PM, Brush Ban Extended

The National Weather Service has issued these for Rockland County:

• Red Flag Warning in effect from May 13, 12:00 PM EDT until May 13, 06:00 PM EDT
• Hazardous Weather Outlook

Also, because the dry and windy conditions have persisted, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo today extended the ban on residential brush burning until May 21.

Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in the state, state officials said.

“State officials have worked hand-in-hand with local firefighters to help contain a rash of wildfires that have broken out across New York in recent weeks,” Cuomo said in a prepared statement. “With dry weather conditions persisting, I am extending this burning ban to better protect the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers who may find themselves and their property in harm’s way. I urge everyone to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves, their neighbors and the first responders.”

The eastern, central, southern and far northern regions of the state are rated as having a high risk of fire danger, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Additionally, the red flag warning is a short-term, temporary warning, indicating the presence of a dangerous combination of temperature, wind, relative humidity, fuel or drought conditions which can contribute to new fires or rapid spread of existing fires.

This year, 110 fires have burned nearly 3,600 acres. While all wildfires in New York are now contained, numerous state agencies deployed resources over the past two weeks to help battle wildfires in eastern New York.

The Roosa Gap Fire in Sullivan and Ulster counties was caused by debris burning and consumed more than 2,700 acres. The fire is now contained. Patrols continue to monitor the site to ensure there are no flare ups.

Since 2009, New York State has enforced a residential brush burning ban for towns with less than 20,000 residents from March 16 through May 14, the period when most wildfires occur. Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park, are designated “fire towns,” and open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a written permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Burning garbage is prohibited year-round. Violators of the open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense.

“We are urging the public to be mindful that during periods of dry weather and gusty winds, brush fires can ignite from anything that can create a small spark,“ said Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John P. Melville. “A lightning strike, a discarded match, or even a car backfiring, could cause a dangerous fire. It is important to take precautions to protect our neighbors and our property from situations that can quickly go from bad to worse.”

Since the ban was enacted, the average number of spring fires per year has decreased from 3,297 to 1,425 or 43.2 percent. To view an updated map of fire danger ratings in New York, visithttp://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68329.html.