New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the agency will be conducting prescribed burns on DEC-managed land in different areas from now through early May. Prescribed fire is a tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife and are regulated by law and regulation, which require technical expertise to conduct these burns safely.

“Prescribed fires are an important land management tool used to achieve specific ecological goals,” said Commissioner Seggos. “In some areas, prescribed fire is also used to reduce the buildup of wood, timber litter, and other hazards that fuel fires in order to reduce the potential for wildfires that threaten public safety and critical infrastructure. DEC carefully and responsibly implements prescribed fires only when conditions are favorable to meet land management goals.”

Prescribed fires are planned in many regions of the state, specifically, DEC’s Regions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. 

Region 1

Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County

Ridge Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County

Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County

David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County

Region 3

Lafayetteville Multiple Use Area – Dutchess County

Region 4

Albany Pine Bush Preserve – Albany County

Region 6

Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area – Jefferson County

Region 7

Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area - Onondaga County

Cicero Swamp Wildlife Management Area - Onondaga County

Long Pond State Forest - Chenango County

Region 8

Canisteo River Basin Unit Management Plan - Steuben County

Rush Oak Openings Unique Area - Monroe County

Sonyea State Forest - Livingston County

Coon Hollow State Forest - Schuyler County

West Hill State Forest - Steuben County

Before any prescribed fire is conducted, a burn plan is developed that outlines land management objectives, as well as parameters that must be satisfied before any prescribed fire can take place. Careful consideration is given to environmental factors such as current and expected weather conditions and smoke management considerations in close coordination with the National Weather Service. In addition, burn plans are executed by nationally qualified burn bosses.

Prescribed burns accomplish more than simply using fire to manipulate habitat for a land management objective. The burns serve as an opportunity for DEC Forest Rangers to develop partnerships among different DEC divisions. Prescribed fires on DEC-managed lands allow Forest Rangers, working with the DEC Divisions of Lands and Forests, Operations, and Fish and Wildlife to train more staff to become wildland firefighters, supporting efforts to implement prescribed burns in the future and response to wildland fires.

In 2023, DEC and partner agencies burned hundreds of acres of grassland habitat and dozens of acres of forested lands. These treatments included controlled burns of two of DEC’s largest Long Island properties, the Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forest and the Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest, as well as other DEC-managed properties in Regions 4, 7, and 8.

Prescribed burns are regulated by law, and they are exempt from the annual residential brush burn ban which is in effect from March 16 to May 14. Burn Boss, Forest Ranger Bryan Gallagher explains more about prescribed fires in a video available for download, https://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/programs/press/ForestRangers/PrescribedBurn1080p.mp4