Burning Ban

ALBANY — State regulators are reminding communities that open burning is banned for a two-month period during early spring, when wildfire risk is generally highest.

The ban on open burning started Wednesday. It was put on the books in 2009. The ban lasts through May 14.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation said open burning in the spring accounted for 40 percent of wildfires from 1986-2006. DEC officials said the number of annual wildfires over the past decade dropped by 33 percent in 2010 - a change they attribute to the new ban.

Those caught burning face a minimum fine of $375.