Firefighters across the tri-state are responding to at least half a dozen fires responsible for filling the skies with smoke and worsening air quality. News 4’s Melissa Colorado reports.
A 2-acre brush fire broke out in Prospect Park on Friday night amid a lengthy drought and windy conditions that have led to red flag warnings for nearly the entire tri-state area.
The FDNY said its crews had the fire under control around 9:40 p.m., just three hours after the first 911 call was received. One firefighter reported a minor injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
"The fire's under control, and there are some hotter spots," FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said at a news conference.
It was not immediately clear what sparked Friday evening's fire, which broke out near Flatbush Avenue at the popular Brooklyn park.
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The brush fire was on a hill in an "extremely dense" part of the park, luckily not close to any structures, Tucker said. Firefighters, he said, would be staying in the park overnight to monitor potential hotspots.
This is now a 2-alarm fire. The FDNY is utilizing drone technology to identify hot spots and specialized brush fire units. pic.twitter.com/jClADJdBg8
— FDNY (@FDNY) November 9, 2024
The fire department said it was using drone technology to identify hot spots to douse, to ensure the fire did not spread further. Wildfire danger can be amplified by low humidity and gusty winds, both of which were present on Friday.
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New York City Emergency Management said in a tweet that smoke and traffic delays could be expected in the area, and encouraged those who live nearby to close their windows in order to keep smoke out of their homes.
Nearly a half-dozen wildfires are burning in New Jersey and red flag warnings cover the tri-state area, from the Garden State to New York City to Fairfield County, Connecticut, Friday, a day after the U.S. Drought Monitor released ever-worsening news. The tri-state area is withering in a prolonged and increasingly extreme drought situation.
As a result of the lower water levels, NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch, urging city agencies to reduce water usage. The watch also encourages residents to do their part to cut the amount of water they use, suggesting actions like shorter showers.
Until we get meaningful rain and reduce our near-eight inch seasonal rain deficit, the fire risk will only get worse.
Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue called the park “an incredible community resource” and a critical urban forest.
“It is the oldest standing forest in Brooklyn, an incredible asset to the community. It’s the lungs of the city,” she said at the news conference.
