burn ban

It’s the time of year for spring yard clean up but also the time New York’s ban on open burning is in place.

The fire danger is still being dealt with in the region and it’s not being helped by people engaging in illegal activities like burning brush or lighting off fireworks.

The National Weather Service in Binghamton is cautioning that warmer, dry weather is again heightening the danger of wildfires in the Twin Tiers.

Rain forecast over the region the next few days is not expected to have much of an impact on the danger of brush and grass fires.

Brush fires continue to flare up in the region as, in spite of a little rain, the lower levels of ground cover and debris remain very dry.

Minor damage is being reported to a few homes in Tioga County as firefighters battled several brush fires, driven by high winds March 24.

New York’s ban on open burning goes into effect next week but Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania has already prohibited burning to try to avoid brush fires.