I contacted the DEC and fire dept. this past summer because we were planning on doing Burns for the same reason as you. But was told that I was not allowed to by the Brockport fire chief. In talking with him could tell that he truly didn't know what I was looking to do, so I contacted the DEC to get a better understanding why I was not allowed to burn. After talking with them they said that you can you prescribed burns but it would be very expensive as you need to have licensed personal on sight, the fire dept. on sight even though they told me I was not allowed to. The DEC them selfs do prescribed burns throughout the state every year. All I can say is good luck. I had 6ft fire breaks around every perimeter I planned on burning and the right tools to do it and was still told no, really screwed up our plans.