What’s Still Allowed? Burn Bans Back in Hudson Valley

Each year in March, New York State puts burn bans in place to protect areas like the Hudson Valley from wildfires and air pollution. Generally, they end on May 14th, but high temperatures and dry conditions are leading some towns to re-instate the bans.

Burn Bans in New York State

The burn bans in New York have been in place since 2009. While it's generally seasonal (March-May), some specific New York areas like the Catskills and Adirondacks enact the bans 365 days a year due to their higher-than-average fire risks. While most of the Hudson Valley is currently allowed to practice open-fire burning, at least one town in Ulster County, NY has recently declared their own fire ban.

Burn Ban in Rosendale, NY

The town of Rosendale, NY recently announced that residents would not be able to have open fires by order of Fire Marshall Kevin Hines, and their press release may be the simplest in the history of press releases:

At this time the Town of Rosendale has currently placed a BAN on open Burning.

Perhaps because of its brevity, Rosendale residents were curious about what type of fires this included, and how long the ban would be in effect.

Rosendale, NY Burn Ban Details

"Is this for contained campfires, or larger bonfires - or both?", asked one Rosendale resident. In response, the resident was asked by the Town to call the Fire Marshall directly for information (you can contact the town of Rosendale HERE). A call to Fire Marshal Hines was quick and easy, and he was more than happy to elaborate on the ban:

Rosendale, NY Fire Marshall Responds

The reimplemented ban affects all burns in the town that would require a permit. Backyard campfires (defined as a 2'x2' enclosed fire), for example, are still allowed as residents do not need a permit to tell ghost stories or roast marshmallows. Permit issuing is currently suspended, and all residents who have recently received a permit for burning has been contacted and informed that the permit is currently not valid for use. This proactive measure while the Hudson Valley experiences high heat and little rain will be updated as necessary.

Firefighters already work tirelessly all around the Hudson Valley, and it's not even always with fires! Check out the amazing rescue earlier this year from Newburgh when a puppy was stranded in the frozen Hudson River below.