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Columbia County, New York, is under a state of emergency due to numerous brush fires reported throughout the area. The emergency declaration, effective from Tuesday (March 11), prohibits all outdoor burning until March 16, when the annual statewide burn ban begins. The decision was made in response to severe drought conditions and strong winds that have made it difficult to control the fires.
According to the Columbia County Emergency Management Office, several volunteer fire departments, including those in Craryville, Livingston, Stuyvesant, Copake, Canaan, and Taghkanic, have been actively battling the fires with assistance from mutual aid partners. The fires have already damaged a couple of outbuildings and scorched about 20 acres of land.
Columbia County Fire Coordinator George Keeler emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the dry and windy conditions have created highly combustible ground cover. Keeler told NEWS10, "There have been several large brush fires in several areas of Columbia County today."
Governor Kathy Hochul had recently announced a burn ban for the lower Hudson Valley, but it did not extend to Columbia County. However, local officials have urged residents to refrain from any outdoor burning until the state ban is in effect. The Greenport Fire Department issued a public notice strongly encouraging no open burning, citing the vulnerability of the area to rapid fire spread.
Residents are advised to stay informed through local news updates as emergency services continue to manage the situation.