Community Corner

Leaf Fire Burns Neighbor's Gazebo, Sends 82-year-old To Hospital

A homeowner was burning leaves in his yard.

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Lanning Taliaferro, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
A man burning leaves in his yard in Garrison set fire to a nearby gazebo, whose owner had to be taken to the hospital.
A man burning leaves in his yard in Garrison set fire to a nearby gazebo, whose owner had to be taken to the hospital. (NY Department of Environmental Conservation)

GARRISON, NY — A leaf litter fire started in a yard in Garrison ended up burning a neighbor's gazebo and sending the neighbor to the hospital.

At 3:45 p.m. Feb. 13, New York State Forest Rangers Griggsby Cowart and Aubrey Russo responded to a leaf fire off Schuyler Road.

They found that while a 79-year-old homeowner was burning leaf litter, an ember blew to a nearby property and set a gazebo on fire.

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While looking at his damaged gazebo, the 82-year-old neighbor had a seizure. The rangers provided medical care until an ambulance arrived.

The homeowner who started the fire was issued two violations for setting a fire which endangered the property of another.

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The neighbor has been released from the hospital, a DEC spokesman said.

Learn more about backyard debris burning at smokeybear.com.

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