The DEC announced its annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning on March 9. The ban begins on March 16 and runs through May 14. The DEC enforces the ban to prevent wildfires. The DEC says even though some areas remain blanketed in snow, the soon warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. Violators of the State’s opening burning regulation are subject to criminal and civil enforcement actions. Read the DEC’s announcement here.