CHENANGO COUNTY – County fire officials are urging residents – particularly those who live in rural areas – to adhere to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s open burning regulations, which prohibits open fires between March 15 and May 15. A number of grass and brush fires have been reported over the past two weeks across the county, including fires in the towns of Norwich, Plymouth, Smithville, North Norwich, Preston, Oxford and – on Monday – South Otselic and Smyrna.

Due to the mild winter and lack of snowfall, there is a significant amount of dead, dry, longstanding grass still present in many areas, reported Chenango Bureau of Fire Deputy Fire Coordinator Michael Beckwith. The conditions, he added, are perfect for fires to start with just a small spark. The Plymouth, Sherburne and Smyrna fire departments responded to yesterday’s Smyrna fire, located on Boos Law Road, which quickly spread across acres of field and disturbingly close to several homes and structures.

And while the cause of yesterday’s fire is unknown, according to fire officials, there had been a case of open burning nearby the day before.

“This means no outside burning of any kind can take place,” said Beckwith of the DEC regulations. “The Chenango County Bureau of Fire is strongly urging residents to follow this ban.”

According to Marie Kovacs, who lives at 1003 Boos Law Road, the speed at which yesterday’s fire spread was astonishing.