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• State of Emergency Burn Ban

  TOWN OF CRAWFORD

  STATE OF EMERGENCY

  EXECUTIVE ORDER BURN BAN 10-28-2024

  Declaration of State of Emergency

  A State of Emergency is hereby declared in the Town of Crawford, effective at 10:00 a.m. on October 28, 2024.

  The State of Emergency has been declared due to drought conditions, which have affected the Town's water supply and have increased the risk of wildfires.

  Such conditions threaten or imperil the public safety of the citizens of the Town of Crawford.

  This State of Emergency will remain in effect until conditions improve and rescinded by the Town Supervisor.

  As the Chief Executive of the Town of Crawford, Orange County, State of New York, I, Charles E. Carnes, exercised the authority given me under Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, to preserve public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of this Municipality.

  I hereby direct all departments and agencies of the Town of Crawford to take whatever steps necessary to protect life and property, public infrastructure, and provide such.

  DATED: October 28, 2024

                  Pine Bush, New York

   

  Charles E. Carnes, Supervisor

  cc: Jessica Kempter, Town Clerk

        J. Benjamin Gailey, Esq., Town Attorney

        Town of Crawford Police Department

        Pine Bush Fire Department

        Bullville Fire Department

        Town of Crawford Website

  Enforcement:

  1. Upon notification of suspected outdoor burning the local volunteer fire companies shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire.
  2. As soon as possible, law enforcement agencies shall respond to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire. The law enforcement officers shall request immediate compliance with this order. 

  All outdoor burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, and cooking fires within said jurisdictions is prohibited unless:

              1) Authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;

              2) For cooking of food exclusively within a contained gas or charcoal grill.

  The setting of fires to any grass, brush or forest covered land, unless authorized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, shall constitute a violation of the law.

            BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the purpose of this order is the mitigation of public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather conditions and the limited first responders and human resources to combat potential fires by curtailing the practice of outdoor burning, accordingly, this order shall expire when the conditions are again deemed safe, upon such date as determined by the Town of Crawford Supervisor in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

   Done and ordered this 28th day of October 2024

  Charles E. Carnes, Town Supervisor

  TOWN OF CRAWFORD EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 2024-01

  AN ORDER AND DECLARATION FOR A BURN BAN FOR ALL OF THE TOWN OF CRAWFORD UNDER LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY

  WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford Supervisor hereby finds that circumstances present within the Town of Crawford create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning; and

  WHEREAS, the Town of Crawford Supervisor heretofore has declared a State of Emergency effective October 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., declaring that a state of emergency exists throughout the Town of Crawford due to severe drought conditions and the threat of wildfires caused by outdoor burning, and its imminent threat to the health and welfare of Town of Crawford citizens; and

  WHEREAS, the Executive Order, in accordance with Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, authorizes political subdivisions to take whatever prudent action that is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community; and

  WHEREAS, Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law authorizes political subdivisions to take all necessary action and issue any necessary orders to protect human life; and

  WHEREAS, October 28, 2024, the Town Supervisor of the Town of Crawford issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency regarding the severe drought conditions; and

  NOW, THEREFORE, it is ORDERED that outdoor burning is prohibited in all the Town of Crawford.

• Urge Residents to install and check Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  Crawford Supervisor Charles Carnes joined by Police Chief Dominick Blasko, Bullville Fire Chief Bill Bacon and Pine Bush Fire Chief Wyatt Clegg urge residents to check and install Carbon monoxide detectors.

  As temperatures have gotten colder many residents have turned on their heat causing our first responders to respond to several residences that have had near fatal levels of Carbon Monoxide.

  Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a gas that forms whenever a fossil fuel is burned. CO is known as the "silent killer" as it is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poisonous gas. Most CO poisonings take place at home and are caused by items that are not properly cared for or vented, such as furnaces, water heaters, generators, gas grills, dryers, lanterns, space heaters, fireplaces, chimneys and gas stoves.

  “Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include flu-like symptoms – headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion and nausea,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “If you think you have been exposed, it is important to get into an area with fresh air immediately and seek medical attention.”

  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each year approximately 50,000 people across the country visit the emergency department for accidental CO poisoning. 

  CO poisoning can be prevented by practicing the safety tips listed below and knowing the symptoms of exposure. At high levels, CO can cause death within minutes. If you suspect you may be experiencing CO poisoning, or your CO detector alarm goes off, go outside immediately for fresh air and THEN call 911. 

  To protect yourself and your family from CO, follow these safety tips:

  • Make sure you have working CO detectors. Detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, are strongly recommended. Detectors can be purchased at most hardware and big box stores.
  • Change batteries every six months (fall and spring) and replace your detector every five years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Use a battery-powered detector where you have fuel burning devices but no electric outlets. Having a CO detector handy when using tents, cabins, RVs and boats with enclosed cabinsis a good safety practice.
  • Have your furnace or wood-burning stove inspected annually. Hire a professional to make sure it is functionally sound and vents properly outside the home. 
  • Generators should be run at a safe distance (at least 20 feet) from the home. Never run a generator in the home, garage, or right next to windows or doors. 
  • Never run a car in an enclosed space. If a vehicle is running, you must have a door open to the outside.  
  • Never run a gasoline or propane heater or a grill (gas or charcoal) inside your home or in an unventilated garage. Any heating system that burns fuel produces CO. 

  For further information visit https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/environmental/public_health_tracking/about_pages/carbonmonoxide/about_co