March is Wildfire Prevention Month, and while wildfires in New York have not been as destructive as other wildfires in the country, it is important to recognize the risks in our rural Finger Lakes communities and reduce potential hazards. Our local fire departments typically have limited equipment to manage wildfires, and implementing steps to help prevent these fires is a good way to reduce the potential risks.
Home Maintenance and Landscaping Tips
- Obey annual burn ban periods.
- Keep everything clean within 30 feet of structures.
- Within five feet of the home, use non-flammable landscaping materials and high-moisture plants.
- Remove leaves, branches, and debris from overhangs and gutters.
- Keep firewood stacks at least 30 feet from the home.
- Keep flammable conifer trees widely separated.
Campfires
- Use campfire rings.
- Build fires away from overhanging branches.
- Pile extra wood away from the fire.
- Keep fires less than three feet high and less than four feet in diameter.
- Keep water and hand tools nearby in order to control the fire.
- Terminate fires with water while stirring embers to ensure complete extinguishing.
Kyle Black is the District Manager at Seneca Meadows Landfill located in Seneca Falls, New York.