CHENANGO – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Forest Protection is issuing an advisement to all citizens in DEC Region 7 to refrain from all open burning. Counties included in this warning area are: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties.

Higher than normal temperatures and low relative humidity over the past several days have brought the fire danger level to “very high” throughout the area. Dead grass and areas of light brush dry out within one to ten hours of sun under these conditions and ignite quickly. Fires in these lighter fuels are very volatile, move very quickly, and are difficult to control. Even light winds can lead to loss of control of a fire under these conditions.