SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WENY) -- While New York State has a burn ban in effect until May 14th, the State Department of Environmental Conservation announced on Friday, March 21st there would be a number of controlled burns across the Empire State, including in the Southern Tier. Specifically, one location in Schuyler County, and five areas in Steuben County are slated to see controlled burns. 

“Prescribed fires are an important tool to keep New York State lands thriving and reduce fire risk,” said Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton, adding, “In addition to removing wood and timber litter that fuels wildfires and threatens public safety and structures, prescribed burning helps DEC achieve specific ecological goals, including eliminating invasive species and ensuring growth of fire-dependent ecosystems.”

State fire officials say the fires are planned, and controlled events. Once the right conditions are identified for a controlled burn, on site technical experts are required to be on site along with multiple fire crews with up to 25 firefighters. 

In Steuben County, controlled burns are slated for Cameron State Forest, the Canisteo River Basin Unit Management Plan, the Helmer Creek Wildlife Management Area, the West Cameron Wildlife Management Area, and West Hill State Forest. In Schuyler, Coon Hollow State Forest is the only location slated for a controlled burn. 

Experts say controlled burns are incredibly important to keeping wildfires and brush fires under control by eliminating the timber and dry brush that can fuel them. Last year, the DEC said that hundreds of acres of grassland and dozens of acres of forest were hit with controlled burns.