NEW SCOTLAND — Christopher Bonham, 33, of 37 Deer Cliff Road, New Scotland, was ticketed by the New York State Environmental Conservation Police on May 10 for violating the statewide burn ban on Saturday, May 9.

Bonham called the Albany County Sheriff’s office on May 9 around 7:30 p.m. to report a brush fire at 47 Deer Cliff Road in New Scotland, according to a release from the sheriff’s office; deputies arrived to find Bonham unsuccessfully attempting to extinguish the fire. The police sent Bonham to his nearby home while they tried to contain the fire until firefighters arrived, the release says.

“The suspect in this fire admitted that he started it and that he called our dispatch center for assistance when the fire grew out of control,” Chief Deputy Michael S. Monteleone responded to Enterprise questions in an email. “The suspect lived close by and did not drive to or from the scene, he walked.”

The New Salem Fire Department put out the fire, and deputies were helped by members of the Voorheesville Area Ambulance Service and the Albany County Sheriff’s paramedics.

“The fire was extinguished in approximately 15 minutes. The New Salem Fire Department extinguished the fire and did so prior to the arrival of the Onesquathaw Fire Department which had also been requested to the scene,” stated Monteleone. “The total area which was burned was less than one acre.”

Deputies interviewed Bonham at his home, where he stated that he had had several alcoholic drinks before starting a camp ire, the release says; he was unable to contain the fire. Bonham is due in New Scotland Town Court on Aug. 20.

The sheriff’s office responds to brush fires during spring and summer months when very dry conditions are occurring, said Monteleone. This spring, he said, the sheriff’s office has responded to 12 outdoor fires.

Burn ban extended

Environmental Conservation Law bans open fires statewide until May 15 but the governor announced on Wednesday that the state has extended the ban on residential brush burning until May 21 due to continued dry conditions across New York. Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in the state and there have been “rash of wildfires” across the state in recent weeks, according to a release from the governor’s office.

The eastern, central, southern and far northern regions of the state are rated as having a high risk of fire danger, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation. The Southern Tier, Lake Ontario, and Adirondack regions are rated as having a moderate risk of fire danger. This year, 110 fires have burned nearly 3,600 acres.

While all wildfires in New York are now contained, the Wednesday release said, numerous state agencies deployed resources over the past two weeks to help battle wildfires in the eastern New York.

Since 2009, New York State has enforced a residential brush-burning ban for towns with fewer than 20,000 residents from March 16 through May 14, the period when most wildfires occur. Burning garbage is prohibited year-round. Violators of the open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense.

Since the ban was enacted, the average number of spring fires per year has decreased from 3,297 to 1,425 or 43.2 percent. To view an updated map of fire danger ratings in New York, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68329.html.

— Jo E. Prout