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Residents tell council smoke from neighbor's fire pit on Yurchak Road is affecting their health; mayor offers follow-up
Summary
Residents Mary Ann Collins and Cristian Zamfir told the council that smoke from a long-running outdoor fire pit at 55 Yurchak Road frequently drifts onto their property and affects their breathing; the mayor said police and code enforcement have inspected, county and state fire officials were contacted, and he offered to meet residents and review photos.
Two Ogdensburg residents raised a public-health nuisance complaint at the borough council meeting on Oct. 26, saying persistent smoke from an outdoor fire pit at 55 Yurchak Road is making them sick.
Mary Ann Collins, of 150 Kennedy Ave., told the council she and a neighbor have photographs showing thick smoke crossing onto their property and said the burning often lasts "six, seven, eight hours a day" with no apparent cooking purpose; she said the smoke is "really affecting our health; our breathing." Resident Cristian Zamfir offered to share photographs with the borough.
Mayor George P. Hutnick said police and code enforcement have made several visits to the location and that he has observed burning at times but not always seen conditions constituting a legal order to stop; he also said the borough contacted County authorities and the State Fire Association. The mayor asked residents to drop photos at Borough Hall or email them to Clerk Robin Hough so officials could review the evidence and he offered to meet with them in person.
No formal enforcement action was recorded in the transcript; the mayor described the matter as ongoing and said the borough is seeking more documentation to determine next steps.
