Dry Weather Prompts State of Emergency Declaration

Tompkins County Administrator Stephen Whicher declared a state of emergency in Tompkins County on Friday as a result of the risk of brush fires created by the recent dry, hot weather conditions. The order will be in effect until Wednesday, when Whicher be reevaluate to determine whether it should be lifted or extended.

According to a press release, Whicher’s declaration banned all outdoor burning and recreational outdoor fires. Cooking fires in a contained, controlled barbeque pit or cooking grill are still allowed, although anyone cooking outside is required to “at all times have readily available the proper equipment to extinguish the fire.”