With lawns and fields virtual tinderboxes and no real rain in the forecast, Schoharie County has extended its emergency ban on outdoor burning at least through Saturday.
That means no burn barrels, no outdoor fireplaces, and no dumping smoldering woodstove ashes outside—the last of which sparked one of the calls Fire Coordinator Matt Brisley went on Saturday.
“Friday we were okay, Sunday we were okay, but Saturday, people who were up for the weekend weren’t aware of the ban,” he said,” and we had some problems.”
The local burning ban’s been in place since last Wednesday as have bans in Mongtomery and Saratoga Counties; Monday, Schenectady and Albany Counties also joined the list.
Despite this, Mr. Brisley said there have been more than a dozen brush fires, all of them small—so far.
“There’s a slight chance of showers Wednesday, and again Friday, but we’re really going to need a good day or two steady rain before this isn’t a concern,” he said.
It’s not unusual for spring to mean an increase in brush fires; last spring there weren’t too many problems because things were wetter, Mr. Brisley said, but 2006 was another dry year.
According to the National Weather Service, the Capital Region hasn’t had any measurable rain since April 13, when one-tenth of an inch was recorded.
Overall, spring precipitation is up, but NWS meteorologists point out it’s been a while since any significant rainfall.
Earl VanWormer, chairman of the Board of Supervisors said he’ll decide Saturday whether to extend the ban on outdoor burning again.
“We’ve been lucky so far, but all it would take to get things going is a spark and some wind,” he said.
“I’ve been watching the weather and it doesn’t look like there’s any real rain out there.”
Mr. Van Wormer said he’s seen other signs of the dry weather and lack of new growth: Deer on his front lawn made quick work of two beds of tulips and his brother’s planting peas the earliest either of them can remember.
“It’s strange weather, but it could change tomorrow. We’re getting lulled into thinking spring is here, but who knows what kind of weather’s coming?”