Interview: Lowville Fire Chief Joe Austin talks wildfire safety amid dry, hazy conditions

LOWVILLE- Air quality alerts issued statewide this week continued into Wednesday and local emergency responders are becoming concerned with how dry it is around the North Country.

The eerie haze and smoke lurking in our presence since Monday has drifted its way down from Canada, where nearly 160 wildfires are scorching the Province of Quebec, reports indicate.

With raging wildfires to the north, fire officials here are fretting the very thought of something similar that could spark amidst a severely dry spell.

"So any type of fire is a risk for spreading now," says Lowville Fire Chief Joe Austin.

"It's camping season out there and our campsites are in forest areas and that forest is just as dry as the rest. The best suggestion is to keep any fires as small as possible, making sure there is a water source nearby to douse if needed and keeping track of the embers that are flying because if they land in the wrong spot, then they will catch something on fire." 

So far this spring, Chief Austin says Lowville Fiore Department has responded to at-least 5 different calls for various brush and grass fires. 

Be sure to listen to our full on-air segment here:

Although he doesn't encourage it for the time being, Austin warns (for now) those who will have a camp or recreational fire to keep it small in a confined pit with some sort of cement, brick or dirt wall. 

In addition, outdoor grilling and BBQs are currently a risk for sparking a wildfire. If you like to grill, Chief Austin says to ensure your grills are freshly cleaned to avoid any potential grease from dripping onto the lawn.

According to the New York State DEC, wildfires, often called forest fires, damage thousands of acres of natural resources most every year statewide.

Although wildfires naturally occur from lightning, human activities are the cause of most wildfires, the DEC emphasized.

The latest fire danger map from the DEC published Wednesday, June 7:

Headline image via Lowville Fire Department.