Violation of Statewide Open Burning Ban

DATE & TIME: 10-23-2022 / 4:00 pm

LOCATION: East of Cortland

OFFENSE: Violation of Statewide Open Burning Ban                                                                       CASE #: 2022-5694

Investigators at the Gage County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a resident of rural Cortland who reported that his neighbor had a “burn pit” and that was the cause of the fires in the area on Sunday, 10-23-2022.

An investigator followed up and in the course of the investigation determined that 57-year-old Steven Trefethen of had been burning grass on his property on Friday, 10-21-2022 and had extinguished the fire by Saturday, however with the dry conditions and the high winds on Sunday, 10-23-2022, the fire reignited and the fire spread northward from his yard, resulting in damage to nearby property.

The Cortland Fire Department responded to and extinguished the fire after several hours.

Mr. Trefethen was cited for violation of the statewide open burning ban and given a court date in the County Court of Gage County.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant T. Hanson #90310