NEW YORK (PIX11) – Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statewide “burn ban” in New York as a massive fire burns across New York and New Jersey.
New Yorkers are being asked not to burn any outdoor fires and use extreme caution when grilling outdoors, Hochul announced Tuesday. The use of grills has been completely banned in New York City’s parks.
Campfires should never be left unattended and should not exceed three feet tall, officials said. Fire blankets, water or other fire safety materials should be on hand to put out campfires. State officials will start enforcing the burn ban immediately.
“The conditions we’re facing are still pretty dire,” Hochul said. “We don’t know how long this will last.”
Exceptions to the burn ban include on-site agricultural waste burning, regular fire training, and grills used outside New York City.
Tuesday is expected to bring winds around 25 miles per hour, which could bring “turmoil, chaos, and a lot of uncertainty,” Hochul said. Much of New York, including New York City and the Hudson Valley, have been determined to have a high risk of fire Tuesday, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
Facing drought conditions, New Yorkers are also being asked to conserve water for the next few months.
The Jennings Creek fire is still burning Tuesday after spreading to burn 5,000 acres across New York and New Jersey. One teenager, Dariel Vasquez, was killed while fighting the fire.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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