SOMERS, N.Y. - It’s brush fire season.
Continued dry and windy conditions contributed to several such blazes in the area recently, including one in North Salem near a nursing and rehabilitation facility, one in Somers, and another in the Putnam County village of Brewster.
Preventative measures are being called for.
Somers Supervisor Robert Scorrano, on behalf of the town, has asked residents to refrain from using outdoor fire pits, extinguishing cigarettes outside, fireworks, and anything that can cause a potential fire until further notice.
“Even contained fires can pose a significant threat in these conditions, and we must all work together to protect our community from potential fire hazards,” he said.
It took firefighters three hours to put out a large brush fire on Primrose Street on Sunday, Nov. 3.
North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas reminded his folks that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a drought warning for a number of counties, including Westchester.
He also warned against outdoor fires, even if in fire pits.
“With the lack of water fires can spread rapidly. Everything is extremely combustible. A home on Nash Road was destroyed by fire last week and another home had a fire over the weekend which started on their deck. Using outdoor fire pits puts your property and your neighbors at risk,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
During a drought, water conservation -- even in small ways -- can help.
Lucas suggested not running the tap while shaving, washing hands, washing dishes, or brushing teeth. Leaks should be fixed and folks should run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full, he said.
Meanwhile, Westchester County has issued an open fire ban for all its parks.
County parks in our area area: Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park (North Salem), Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and Old Field Preserve (Lewisboro), Muscoot Farm and Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Memorial (Somers), Hilltop Hanover and Environmental Center (Yorktown), and Merestead (Mount Kisco).
While the ban is in effect, charcoal and propane fires will only be permitted for cooking in permanently fixed grills in the parks.
Safety tips regarding the open fire ban and drought watch include:
Where campfires are permitted, limit their size and never leave one unattended. Make sure it has been fully extinguished before leaving a campsite.
The burning of tree limbs or other organic debris is not permitted while the burn ban is in effect.
Safely dispose of any charcoal used in a grill or ashes from wood burned in a fireplace.
Extinguish cigarettes and other lightened materials safely and do not drop them in any wooded or grassy area.
If you observe any smoke or small fire in any park or wooded area, please call 911 immediately so it can be quickly contained.
Good to Know
For more fire prevention tips, visit dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/air-quality/open-burning.
For information on how to protect your home, visit dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/wildfires/firewise-new-york/homeowners
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