Governor Hochul has issued a burn ban to include Ulster County due to increased fire activity and increased potential for wildfires. The burn ban is in effect until March 16th, when the statewide burn ban will go into effect until May 14th.

This burn ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, recreational fires and open fires used for cooking, unless otherwise excluded below. This ban shall not apply to: 

1. Barbecue grills, maple sugar arches and similar outdoor cooking devices when used for cooking or processing food.
2. Contained campfires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter if contained in a fireplace, hibachi or fire ring.
3. On-site burning of agricultural wastes as part of a valid agricultural operation on contiguous agricultural lands larger than five acres actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use, provided such waste is grown or generated on those lands and such waste is capable of being fully burned within a 24-hour period.
4. Burning on an emergency basis of explosive or other dangerous or contraband materials by police or other public safety organizations.
5. Prescribed burns performed according to 6 NYCRR Part 194.
6. Fire training, including firefighting, fire rescue, and fire/ arson investigation training, performed under applicable rules and guidelines of the New York State Department of State's Office of Fire Prevention and Control. For fire training performed on acquired structures, the structures must be emptied and stripped of any material that is toxic, hazardous or likely to emit toxic smoke (such as asbestos, asphalt shingles and vinyl siding or other vinyl products) prior to burning and must be at least 300 feet from other occupied structures. No more than one structure per lot or within a 300-foot radius (whichever is bigger) may be burned in a training exercise.
7. Individual open fires as approved by the director of the Division of Air Resources as may be required in response to an outbreak of a plant or animal disease upon request by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, or for the destruction of invasive plant and insect species.