The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation will be conducting prescribed burns on DEC-managed land in different areas from now through early May. Prescribed fire is a tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife and is regulated by law and regulation, which require technical expertise to conduct these burns safely.
“Prescribed fires are an important land management tool used to achieve specific ecological goals,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “In some areas, prescribed fire is also used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other hazards that fuel fires in order to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.”
Prescribed burns are planned in Schuyler and Steuben counties:
Schuyler County:
Steuben County:
Canisteo River Basin Unit Management Plan
“Prescribed fires are an important land management tool used to achieve specific ecological goals,” said Commissioner Seggos. “In some areas, prescribed fire is also used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other hazards that fuel fires in order to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.”
Before any prescribed fire is conducted, a burn plan is developed that outlines land management objectives, as well as parameters that must be satisfied before any prescribed fire can take place. Careful consideration is given to environmental factors such as current and expected weather conditions and smoke management considerations in close coordination with the National Weather Service. In addition, burn plans are executed by nationally qualified burn bosses.
Prescribed burns accomplish more than simply using fire to manipulate habitat for a land management objective. The burns serve as an opportunity for DEC Forest Rangers to develop partnerships among different DEC divisions. Prescribed fires on DEC-managed lands allow Forest Rangers, working with the DEC Divisions of Lands and Forests, Operations, and Fish and Wildlife to train more staff to become wildland firefighters, supporting efforts to implement prescribed burns in the future and response to wildland fires.
