‘Settle disputes yourselves,’ firefighters say

The Williamstown Fire Department is urging residents to avoid calling emergency crews over routine campfires tied to neighbor disputes, warning that repeated complaints are diverting firefighters from genuine emergencies and costing taxpayers money.

In a public statement issued this week, the Orange County firefighters said they have responded to “many neighborly dispute calls” in recent years involving complaints about campfires and burn piles.

“Just remember when you call the Fire Department because your neighbors are having a campfire that you don’t agree with takes emergency personnel away from true emergencies,” the department said. “We are 1000% ready to help and serve when you need help. That’s what we are here for and enjoy doing. To make a point with your neighbors is unnecessary especially at 1 a.m.”

Fire officials said nuisance complaints can affect firefighters’ families, jobs and personal lives while also creating unnecessary costs for the town.

The department encouraged residents to distinguish between illegal trash burning and ordinary wood fires before calling 911.

“How to tell the difference in a trash burn vs a good old fashion campfire is smell and smoke,” the statement said. “If the smoke is black and dark grey and smells nasty it’s probably a consistent trash burn and should be extinguished. If the smoke is light, white, bluish with a natural wood burning smell it’s probably just a natural wood burn taking place.”

Officials noted that legal campfires may initially produce large flames or darker smoke if residents use newspaper, cardboard or accelerants to ignite the fire, but said responsible users typically allow the flames to settle to a reasonable size.

The department also reminded residents that fires outside a fire pit or ring should be reported to the local fire warden, and that only natural materials may be burned.

“Chip board and some furniture types are not allowed,” the department said.

Fire officials encouraged neighbors to attempt civil conversations before escalating disputes to emergency dispatchers.

“If we continue to see a rise in false trash burn complaints we will be working with law enforcement to set fines to the responsible parties including the caller making false claims,” the statement said. “The taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for neighbors not getting along.”

“Perhaps without putting yourself in harm’s way have a civil conversation with your neighbors to resolve your burning differences,” the statement said.

The department warned that continued increases in what it described as false trash-burning complaints could lead to fines.