The snow is still flying in some parts of New York State this week. As the clocks spring forward, it is feeling like anything BUT spring. There are some forecasts that call for March to be more winter-like than February was!

The storms and the winter winds have left behind a slew of debris in your backyard. The sticks, leaves and limbs (or even full trees) are on the ground and waiting for you to pick them up. What happens next is the issue.

In most rural locations in New York State, it is common to see large burn piles or brush piles set up. Burning the brush is the fastest way to get rid of the mess that the winter has left behind. In some suburban areas you may see neighbors burning brush in smaller piles. However, the burning deadline is looming.

NEW YORK BURN BAN 2023

This year's burn ban is not something that is new. However, there are some who may confuse this particular ban with the state's plan to eliminate burning wood to heat your home. That is still something that many of us are trying to unpack.

The 2023 New York State "burn ban" will be in effect from March 16 through May 14.

In towns with a total population less than 20,000, you may burn tree limbs with attached leaves. The limbs must be less than 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length (also referred to as brush). However, this is not allowed from March 16 through May 14 due to the increased risk of wildfires. Burning loose leaves or leaf piles is illegal.


10 Tips To Prevent Wildfires

Smokey The Bear said it best, "only you can prevent wildfires." Well, it's a lot easier said than done, Smokey. Great name for a bear trying to warn us about fire hazards, by the way.

In order to prevent wildfires, you have to first know how they can be prevented. Here are 10 tips provided by the Department Of Interior that will help you in your every day life, so you can enjoy being outside, camping, and having bonfires without it turning into a problem.

Here are their 10 tips, along with some simplified explanations from me.

Here are All the Colorado Wildfires in 2022

We're keeping a running list of wildfires in Colorado in 2022. See the wildfires that crews around the state are dealing with this year. We sure appreciate our firefighters, first responders, forest rangers, and park rangers. Thank you for all you do.

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