AKWESASNE – (Kenténha/October 3, 2025) The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT), Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA), and the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department (HAVFD) announce a thirteen-day (13) burn ban is active effective immediately for all of Akwesasne, the North and South portions, respectively due to increased fire risk. The ban will be in effect 13 days from October 3 to October 15 and will be re-evaluated prior to expiration.
During this time, please refrain from starting brush fires; fires in a burning barrel; or bonfires that contain leaves, grass, other items that can cause a large, open fire. An open fire could potentially start an uncontrolled wildfire, which can destroy personal property, place an individual’s safety at risk, and require an emergency response from the HAVFD, limiting their capacity to respond to other emergency calls.
“Community members take the Fall season as an opportunity to clear leaves and burn discarded materials to prepare for the winter season, but it also carries a higher fire risk to our homes, natural wetlands, and protected forested areas,” shared the SRMT Office of Emergency Management and Safety, HAVFD, and MCA’s Emergency Operations Center. “Akwesasne is currently experiencing dry conditions and with the fire risk rising in other areas of the state, the burn ban has been implemented to keep Akwesasne safe.”
Please be respectful of this burn ban and recognize that it is intended to keep our community safe. The burn ban will be enforced and violators may be subject to fines.
To stay current on SRMT and MCA news, please visit: www.srmt-nsn.gov or www.akwesasne.ca