A Three-Alarm Brush Fire Blazes in Inwood Hill Park
A three-alarm brush fire blazed in Upper Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the FDNY reported it had responded to a record 229 brush fires citywide in the last two weeks — surpassing the 200 fought by firefighters over the full month of October last year.
Complicated and Arduous Operation
"We have several acres on fire, and it’s starting to take off," reported Ladder 56 responding to the blaze in Inwood Park from Webster Avenue in The Bronx. Video footage posted by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine showed flames dotting either side of a rock-lined pathway. Dispatch transmissions from firefighters revealed a complicated and arduous operation to put out hard-to-reach pockets of fire throughout the park, with the response initially divided into two "boxes," allocating 80 firefighters and EMS personnel from 15 units to two separate command structures in an attempt to divide and conquer.
Firefighters Deploy Drones and Specialized Units
Firefighters deployed drones from the department’s Command Tactical Unit and, nearly an hour into the operation, chiefs on the scene summoned specialized brush fire units and two fire boats to aid in the response. While FDNY fights hundreds of brush fires a year — not to be confused with wildland or wild fires — the department’s specialized brush fire unit, which consists of eight 24-hour companies strategically located across the city, responded to just 12 brush fires last year according to unofficial data tracked by fdnewyork.com, an FDNY fan site.
City’s Engine Companies Understaffed
The city’s engine companies remain staffed with one fewer firefighter across all but 20 companies due to Bloomberg-era cuts that Mayor Eric Adams has yet to fully restore. An unofficial study conducted by retired Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn revealed engine companies with a fifth firefighter nearly halve the time it takes to stretch hose lines. The so-called fifth firefighter is critical during prolonged operations, extreme weather conditions, and particularly challenging emergencies.
Residents Concerned About Future Fires
The recent brush fires over a historically dry stretch included two separate ones over four days in wooded parts of the Bronx’s sprawling Van Cortlandt Park that have local residents and officials concerned about what could be coming before significant rain finally arrives. "Remarkably dry conditions in October and so far in November have resulted in a historic amount of brush fires over the last two weeks," FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said in a statement on Wednesday, hours before another brush fire erupted in Inwood Hill Park. "Due to a significant lack of rainfall, the threat of fast-spreading brush fires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions pose a real threat to our members and our city."
How to Keep Your Apartment’s Air Clear of Wildfire Smoke
- Keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke from getting inside. You can stuff rags, towels, or sheets to block air coming from the sides of windows or bottom of doors.
- Avoid cooking with gas stoves, as burning methane indoors releases the pollutants nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are harmful to health.
- If it’s not feasible to make the air in your whole apartment clean, create a designated clean air room.
- Invest in a high-quality air filter, such as one rated MERV-13 or HEPA.
Conclusion
The recent brush fires in New York City have raised concerns about the city’s preparedness and resources to deal with such emergencies. The FDNY has responded to a record number of brush fires in the last two weeks, and the city’s engine companies are understaffed due to budget cuts. Residents are advised to take precautions to keep their apartments’ air clear of wildfire smoke and to be vigilant about the risk of fast-spreading brush fires.
FAQs
Q: What is the cause of the recent brush fires in New York City?
A: The cause of the recent brush fires is a combination of dry weather conditions and human activity.
Q: How many brush fires have the FDNY responded to in the last two weeks?
A: The FDNY has responded to a record 229 brush fires in the last two weeks.
Q: What is the city doing to prevent future brush fires?
A: The city is taking steps to prevent future brush fires, including prohibiting grilling in parks and increasing the number of firefighters and equipment available to respond to emergencies.
Q: How can residents keep their apartments’ air clear of wildfire smoke?
A: Residents can keep their apartments’ air clear of wildfire smoke by keeping doors and windows closed, avoiding cooking with gas stoves, creating a designated clean air room, and investing in a high-quality air filter.
