Tompkins County Administrator Stephen Whicher has declared a State of Emergency in Tompkins County, effective as of 5:00 p.m. today (Friday, April 25, 2008), because of ongoing weather conditions which create a serious risk of brush fires and threaten public safety.

Mr. Whicher's declaration states that, effective immediately, a ban has been placed on all outdoor burning and recreational outdoor fires. The ban does not include controlled cooking fires when the fire is in a contained, controlled fireplace, barbecue grill or cooking pit. Individuals cooking outdoors must at all times have readily available the proper equipment to extinguish the fire.

The State of Emergency will be in effect for five consecutive days (from April 25th through April 30th), then will be reevaluated to determine if the Emergency Order should be lifted or extended, based on the weather conditions at that time.

County Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff notes that, while it is expected that weather conditions will improve over the next several days, a significant threat still exists related to current conditions. "The declaration is issued as a precaution," says Director Shurtleff. "We have experienced structural threats and potential impact from fires over the past week, and with wind and dry brush and vegetation, there is still a huge potential for extensive damage, if fire breaks out."

As part of the declaration, Administrator Whicher directs all departments and agencies of Tompkins County to take the necessary steps to protect life, property and public infrastructure, and to provide the emergency assistance deemed necessary.