NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new real-time weather data tool to help inform New Yorkers when there is an increased risk of wildfires.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, researchers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Mesonet at the University at Albany are using data from the University at Albany’s Statewide Weather Network to generate daily Fire Danger Ratings to create more reliable wildfires. to offer. information and improving public safety.

“We are seeing the effects of climate change in real time, with dangerous wildfires across the continent year after year,” Hochul said in the press release. “We want to ensure the state has the latest tools and information to prepare for and respond to wildfires to ensure our communities and resources are protected.”

“Even before wildfires occur, accurate data is critical to deploy resources and inform communities of potential hazards,” added Sean Mahar, interim commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “DEC’s partnership with Mesonet in New York State will provide improved and reliable wildfire information to help keep communities safe by leveraging the power of Mesonet to increase the number of stations recording observations in each of the country’s Fire Danger Rating Areas to enlarge the state.

“This data will help create a new, easier-to-read map that New Yorkers will benefit from when wildfire hazards arise.”

Localized fire brigade information

The New York State Mesonet is the most advanced and largest weather detection system in the country.

It has 127 standard weather observation stations covering the entire state, including at least one in each county and municipality. Each location measures temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, precipitation, solar radiation, snow depth, soil information and provides camera images. The data is collected every five minutes in real time, providing weather forecast models and decision support tools for users across New York.

DEC’s Wildfire Predictive Services issues and updates a fire hazard map, which divides New York into multiple Fire Danger Rating Areas and then rates them on a wildfire risk scale from low to extreme.

The improved data collection helps identify the local variability of fire danger across the state, allowing community leaders, emergency managers and everyday New Yorkers to adjust their activities to prevent fires and reduce damage. It will be publicly available and provide year-round fire hazard assessments and, in combination with DEC weather forecasts, other fire, environmental and meteorological variables for all fire hazard assessment areas in New York.

Improving wildfire preparedness

Fire Danger maps are published simultaneously on both the DEC website and the New York State Mesonet Fire Danger Products web page.

Like the current RAWS system, the New York State Mesonet will provide the national Weather Information Management System, which hosts the National Fire Danger Rating System, with the data necessary to publish regional fire hazard rating products.

The public website available through the New York State Mesonet provides current and historical fire information, updated daily. The project is funded by DEC through a Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

The New York State Mesonet Fire Danger Products page is available at https://www.nysmesonet.org/weather/firewx

The DEC Fire Danger Map page is available at https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/wildfires/fire-danger-map

It will continue to host the fire hazard map, in addition to specific information on fire hazard ratings and the fire hazard rating areas.

The fire danger is ‘high’ across the state

Recent dry conditions across the state result in a ‘high’ fire danger.

A high fire hazard means that all fine, dead fuels ignite easily and fires are easily started from most causes, including unattended brush and campfires. Fires can become serious and difficult to control unless they are successfully attacked while they are still small. The fire danger is moderate in the rest of New York State.

An updated fire hazard map is available on the DEC website. Although the statewide ban on burning is no longer in effect, brush burning should only be done when absolutely necessary. Burning trash or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State.

Public burning is prohibited in New York, with these exceptions:

• Campfires or other outdoor fires with a height of less than 1.20 meters and a length, width or diameter of 1.20 meters are permitted.

• Small cooking fires are allowed.

• Ceremonial or festive bonfires are permitted. Disposing of flags or religious objects in a small fire is permitted unless otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.

• Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated or unpainted wood should be burned.

• Fires must not be left unattended and must be completely extinguished.

For more information on fire safety and prevention, visit DEC’s FIREWISE New York webpage at https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/wildfires/firewise-new-york

Originally published: October 29, 2024 at 6:05 AM EDT