Fayette, Greene counties at ‘high’ risk for wildfires
Emergency officials in Fayette and Greene counties are asking people to avoid outdoor burning after the state announced Thursday the two counties are at an elevated risk for wildfires.
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources placed Fayette and Greene in the “high” level for wildfires, which means there are dangerous conditions in which wildfires can easily ignite and spread quickly.
“Fires spread rapidly and are difficult to control under windy conditions,” the DCNR stated about the high threat level. “Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.”
The low humidity coupled with warmer temperatures and wind make the conditions ripe for wildfires as vegetation is still sparse during the early spring.
Greene County Emergency Management Director Rich Policz said that while they cannot outlaw people from open burning, they are strongly advising residents against it for the time being.
“It’s a combination of the humidity (and) the current weather environment,” Policz said. “Yes, we’ve gotten some rain, but there is still a lot of brown out there and it’s breezy. Something as small as a little rubbish fire people do can blow sparks into a dry area and get out of hand.”
The county’s emergency management agency put out an announcement on its Facebook page – complete with Smokey Bear – warning people of the potential danger. Policz said the warning will hopefully be downgraded soon with substantial rain forecast early next week.
“We’re still dealing with last year’s dead vegetation from winter. Once that greens up, that helps out a lot,” he said. “The biggest thing is common sense. … Not burning during windy conditions.”
Fayette County Emergency Management spokeswoman Sue Kozak-Griffith echoed that sentiment and noted that the number of state game lands and forests in the county could be affected.
“Whenever it’s at that high level, it just means the conditions are right,” she said. “We’re trying to deter people if they had planned on open burning. Maybe wait until a day after the rain or maybe when the winds aren’t as active.”
The “high” threat level is in the middle of the chart, with very high and extreme above it. The rest of the state – including Washington County – is under a “moderate” risk for wildfires, while four northern counties along the New York state line are in the low threat level.