Harrison Fire Department on Watch for Brush Fires

Swirling winds and dry sunny days might be great news to fans of spring weather, but in many places they create conditions that are one careless cigarette toss or grilling accident away from disaster.

Just ask firefighters in nearby Harriman State Park, who have spent this week .

"These are perfect conditions for large brush fires that can very quickly get out of control," said Harrison Fire Chief Dino Del Signore. "You've got to be careful."

Harrison has been lucky so far, Del Signore said his department has only responded to two small brush fires over the last few weeks—one incident along I-95 about two weeks ago and another earlier this week on West Street. Neither fire caused any significant damage, but they show how easy it is for a fire to start in these types of conditions.

You don't have to look back too far locally to find a problematic brush fire. Harrison firefighters spent about two weeks in the woods behind in 2010.

Del Signore said in order to help avoid these types of fires people should be careful with things like cigarettes and charcoal grills, he urged residents to bag and dampen charcoal embers and avoid flicking cigarettes on the ground or out of car windows.

Fires have already been for the time being, and local municipalities like Harrison remain on the lookout.

Although it hasn't been an issue so far, Del Signore said his men are trained and ready to go.

"We're prepared, we have the equipment to fight the fires, we just hope we don't have to use it," he said.