The smoke was visible for miles, from Van Cortlandt Park over the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. The FDNY used drones overhead to pinpoint and target hot spots from four separate fires inside the park. NBC New York’s Rana Novini reports.
Firefighters worked to put out a large brush fire in the Bronx, sending smoke into the air that was visible for miles.
Chopper 4 was over the scene of the fire, which was burning in a wooded area of Van Courtland Park, near the Major Deegan Expressway and not far from a number of homes in the area.
The fire, which started around 7:45 a.m., was located off East 233rd Street, the FDNY said. The FDNY used drones overhead to pinpoint and target hot spots from four separate fires inside the park.
"We have very dry conditions and the fires tend to spread fast," said FDNY Deputy Chief William McCormack, noting that the unprecedented dry spell much of the tri-state has been dealing with since September played a major role.
Brush Fire: Van Courtland Park in The Bronx. Expect smoke & traffic delays in the area. People nearby should avoid smoke and close windows. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/PosXqPHajp
— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) November 4, 2024
"Expect smoke & traffic delays in the area. People nearby should avoid smoke and close windows," a social media post from New York City's Emergency Management Department said in the morning.
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The cause of the blaze was under investigation Monday evening.
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Firefighters also battled another brush fire in Fort Tryon Park in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Upper Manhattan. A drought watch was issued for New York City due to the lack of precipitation, and the city's Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said he believes the city will "likely be weeks away, not months away, from a warning."
Among the ways to conserve water, the city recommends:
- Reporting any leaking hydrants to 311
- Shortening showers
- Running dishwasher and washing machines only when they’re full
- Repairing any leaks in homes, especially to toilets
"Part of what we’re trying to do is stave off that emergency as much as possible," said DEP Commissioner Aggarwala.
"People have gotta be careful with cigarettes, dry leaves around their homes, it’s gonna be an issue until we get some rain," said Chief McCormack.
Officials said Upstate New York reservoirs need to get at least six inches of rain to make up for what is missing — meaning that any smaller bits of rain over the next few weeks may not be enough to alleviate drought conditions.
