Prescribed Fires Improve Habitats
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced the agency will be conducting prescribed burns on certain DEC-managed lands from now through early May. Prescribed fire is a tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. It is regulated by law and regulation, requiring technical expertise to conduct these burns safely.
“Prescribed fires are used to reduce the buildup of wood and timber litter to prevent wildfires that would threaten public safety and structures,” said Commissioner Lefton.“It is also an important land management tool that helps DEC achieve specific ecological goals, including eliminating habitat for invasive species.”
Prescribed fires are planned in many regions of the state, specifically, DEC’s Regions 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8.
Ridge Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County
Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County
David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest – Suffolk County
Dwarf Pine Plains Pine Barrens State Forest - Suffolk County
Cicero Swamp Wildlife Management Area - Onondaga County
Long Pond State Forest - Chenango County
Canisteo River Basin Unit Management Plan - Steuben County
Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area - Steuben County
Rush Oak Openings Unique Area - Monroe County
Sonyea State Forest - Livingston County
Coon Hollow State Forest - Schuyler County
West Cameron Wildlife Management Area - Steuben 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 future prescribed burns and wildland fire responses.
In 2025, DEC and partner agencies burned more than 1,600 acres of grassland and woodland habitats. These treatments included prescribed fires on 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 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8
Prescribed burns are regulated by law, and they are exempt from the annual residential brush burn ban 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/
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