COLUMBIA COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A statewide ban against open burning goes into effect March 16. The annual ban comes as one local county just ended a five-day long state of emergency after multiple brush fires broke out.

Extremely dry, windy, and low humidity in New York have pushed several areas to be on high alert about the possibility of brush and wildfires erupting. In Columbia County, Fire Coordinator George Keeler said they were under a state of emergency from March 11 until March 16 after brush fires damaged outbuildings, which are sheds, storage units, and small farms on a homeowners property. Keeler said about 20 acres of land were burned.

"We're down rainfall, so we're into drought conditions," Keeler said. "There is high risk of wildland fires or brush fires and conditions, low humidity, dry weather, and high winds. That tends to lead to a pretty quick expansion of even small fires that you think you have under control."

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in New York State. Keeler said that there are ways to and things to keep in mind when wanting to start cleaning up your lawn by burning any brush, leaves, or trash.

"There is companies around that can come pick them up and dispose of them for you," Keeler said. "They can bag them up, and I know Columbia County has transfer stations where they accept lawn debris and leaves and brush like that. Or, they can wait a few more weeks until things green up and we get some moisture and conditions aren't so ripe for brush fires. So, a little common sense and a little patience."

The annual ban will remain in effect until May 14. However, there are some exceptions according to the NYSDEC. Open fires are allowed on farmland that is at least five acres wide. Campfires and small cooking fires are also allowed. Keeler does urge caution against starting any sort of fire.

"Have the means to be able to keep it under control and put it out," Keeler said. "When you're done with your fire, make sure it is out. Wet the ashes down. Don't just think it is burned down enough, and it's not going anywhere. Just to be sure, pour a five-gallon pail of water on it. Stir it up; make sure it's out."

For those who violate the ban, a minimum of $500 could be imposed. Keeler said repercussions are necessary.

"I think there needs to be some kind of penalty," Keeler said. "You're mobilizing a lot of resources to take care of something that got out of control."

For more detail about what is prohibited from burning, check with the NYSDEC webpage.

KOCANI, North Macedonia (AP) — As families gathered at a hospital for updates, Tomco Stojanov already knew his son’s devastating fate: 25-year-old Andrej was killed Sunday in the nightclub fire that left dozens dead, many trampled during a desperate bid to escape.

“Thank you for your condolences, but my pain is incurable. The wound is incurable,” Stojanov said, holding up a photograph of his son, clean-shaven and wearing a suit jacket. “He died while returning and entering to save other people. And he was pushed, run over, that’s how my son died.”

North Macedonia is grappling with the loss of dozens of young lives in Sunday’s nightclub inferno in the eastern town of Kocani, and trying to hold those responsible to account and prevent another calamity.

Fire tore through the overcrowded Club Pulse during a live concert, leaving 59 people dead and more than 150 injured from burns, smoke inhalation and being trampled in the panicked rush toward the building’s single exit.

Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the club’s ceiling and igniting the blaze as a band played.

Authorities were investigating allegations of bribery surrounding the fire in the nightclub, which was crammed with young revelers and at double capacity.

The tragedy shook the nation of 2 million — where close-knit extended family bonds made the disaster personal to many — was the latest in a string of deadly nightclub fires around the world. People as young as 16 were among the casualties, and the nation declared seven days of mourning.

“We are all in shock, and I am shocked myself: as a mother, as a person, as a president,” North Macedonian President Gordana Davkova Siljanovska said in an address to the nation Sunday night.

Safety code violations in the club

North Macedonia’s government ordered a sweeping three-day inspection to be carried out at all nightclubs and cabarets across the country, starting Monday.

State prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said a preliminary inspection of the nightclub had revealed numerous safety code violations, including a lack of emergency exits, an insufficient number of fire extinguishers and improper access for emergency vehicles.

The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris.

“The omissions are significant. I can confidently say that this is a failure of the system,” the prosecutor told reporters, also noting the lack of an overhead extinguisher system and fire alarms and the use of flammable materials to line the inside walls.

The country was in mourning as people watched harrowing scenes in the town of 25,000 people, where rescuers for hours carried out the grim task of removing the charred bodies of clubgoers.

A state coroner said the bodies were being brought for identification in batches from morgues due to the high number of people killed.

Neighboring countries provide help

Flags around the country have been lowered to half-staff, and the death toll may rise further, with 20 of the injured in critical condition, Health Minister Arben Taravari said.

Neighboring and nearby countries — Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Turkey — along with a number of others have already accepted some 50 patients with the most serious injuries, while several countries are also sending medical teams to North Macedonia, officials said.

“All patients who have been transferred abroad are currently in stable condition. We hope it stays that way and that we will receive positive news from abroad,” Taravari said.

Officials said 10 people remain in police custody for questioning in Kocani, some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of the capital, Skopje. Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski added that a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper license. He said the number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250.

Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of the hospitalized Pope Francis.

Late Sunday, Kocani’s residents held a candlelight vigil in support for mourning families, waiting in long lines to light church candles.

Beti Delovska, an economist from Skopje, said North Macedonia has never experienced a tragedy like this, with dozens of young people vanishing in minutes. And she noted that many young people with bright futures had already left the nation, in search of opportunities elsewhere.

”(North) Macedonia is on its death bed,” Delovska said. “We have no more credible institutions, the health system is completely dismantled, education is poor, judiciary is partisan and corrupted to the bone. … I do believe now that only God can save (North) Macedonia.”

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Testorides reported from Skopje, North Macedonia

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