BEEKMANTOWN -- Fires 20 years strong burn in Beekmantown.

Burke Road and Route 22 are among the most emblazoned in the town.

"That's the burning-barrel-issue area," said Route 22 resident Cheryl Goldfarb.

But open and illegal burning has been sneaking up everywhere.

"We have had a number of complaints from all parts of the town, more so this year than in the years past," said Town Supervisor Dennis Relation. "I think that it's burning near the property line. The houses are closer together."

In a town with no other burning laws or enforcement beyond what New York state provides, a number of residents have been battling against smoke in their living rooms.

Smoked Out

For Goldfarb and her husband, Scott, it's been an almost constant issue with at least one neighbor.

"The smoke will come across the street, and I have to close my windows," she said. "And, yes, obviously, it stinks."

The contents of that smoke worries her.

"Especially with what they put in products now. This causes cancer, that causes cancer. You've got to be careful. We want to breath that air."

On nearby Burke Road lives James Matthews. He's a resident of Plattsburgh, but one of his neighbors is in Beekmantown.

"She burns every day, and I know she is burning garbage. People have seen her dump diapers in there."

Matthews has asked the woman to stop.

"Her attitude is tough,'" he said.