The Lower Hudson Valley and other parts of New York are under an annual burn ban imposed by the New York State Department of Conservation in response to prevent hazardous wildfires from March 16 to May 14.
The New York State Department of Conservation has implemented a statewide brush burning ban every year from March to May since 2009 to prevent the risk of wildfires in the spring season.
Despite more occurrences of rain in the spring season, high winds and low humidity are the main factors that lead to increased wildfire risk in the spring. The NYSDEC said open burning debris, partnered with environmental factors, is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State.
More debris is left behind after the snow melts in early spring, with dry leaves and twigs from the fall usually causing the increased risk.
“Many of us are looking forward to spring weather after a very cold winter, but with the warming temperatures comes increased fire risk,” NYSDEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “That’s why we’re once again asking all New Yorkers to abide by the two-month-long burn ban. The more careful you are with fire, the better we can protect our communities and natural resources as well as our Forest Rangers and firefighters across the state.”
In March 2025, over 600 acres of land were burned on Long Island after an outdoor fire caused a widespread forest blaze through the Pine Barrens in Suffolk County. In 2024, another accidental blaze burned over 5,000 acres of land and claimed the life of an 18-year-old volunteer in Orange County during the Jennings Creek wildfire in November.
The Mid and Lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island regions are currently considered high risk according to the NYSDEC’s Fire Danger Map, making the region the highest risk area in the state as of April 13. Upstate and Western New York counties are at moderate to low risk due to lower concentrated populations, lower winds and higher frequency of precipitation.
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What is prohibited under the early burn ban in Lower Hudson Valley?
The burn ban prohibits the ignition of outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, uncontained campfires and open fires used for cooking, said the NYSDEC. This includes burning downed tree limbs and branches
Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width or diameter are allowed as are small, contained cooking fires.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYSDEC imposes statewide brush burn ban to prevent wildfire outbreaks
Reporting by Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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