Open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in NYS. Since the spring burn ban was implemented in 2009, the number of wildfires has decreased by more than 40%.

Open burning is prohibited in NYS, with several exceptions:

Camp fires or any other outdoor fires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter are allowed.
Small cooking fires are allowed.
Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. Disposal of flags or religious items in a small-sized fire is allowed, if it is not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.
Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated or unpainted wood can be burned.
Fires cannot be left unattended and must be fully extinguished.
In towns with a total population less than 20,000, you may burn tree limbs with attached leaves. The limbs must be less than 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length (also referred to as brush). However, this is not allowed from March 16 through May 14 due to the increased risk of wildfires. Burning loose leaves or leaf piles is illegal.

The practice of burning large piles of brush collected from local residents at town or county transfer sites is prohibited. The individual landowners in small towns may burn their brush on-site, as discussed above. Downed limbs and branches generated at a transfer site are also allowed to be burned on-site with the same restrictions. See Section 215.3 (leaves DEC website) for a full list of exceptions.

Please note: While most firewood must be untreated, some firewood is heat treated (kiln dried) to control invasive insect species if it is to be transported over 50 miles. Heat treated firewood is not intended to be prohibited. However, the burning of chemically treated wood, such as pressure-treated lumber and plywood, is prohibited.