A huge brush fire broke out in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on November 8, 2024, evening, with images and videos on social media showing flames spreading across parts of the park. The New York City Fire Department reported that the fire started near the Nethermead meadow just before 7 p.m.
Witnesses shared their experiences online, with one noting concerns about dry conditions in parks, recounting a recent encounter with a smoker near dry leaves. The fire department confirmed their active response through a post on X, stating,
“FDNY units are operating at a brush fire in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Operations are ongoing.”
Later, the department upgraded the situation to a two-alarm fire, indicating they were using drones to locate hot spots and specialized brushfire units. As per the latest updates, no injuries have been reported due to the fire hazard.
The fire occurred in a heavily wooded section of Prospect Park on a hill, without any nearby structures at risk, according to an FDNY official. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker stated in a news conference that while the fire was under control, some hot spots remained.
Firefighters were stationed in Prospect Park throughout the night to prevent flare-ups from windborne embers, with Tucker noting that daylight would assist in identifying the fire’s cause and origin. Officials highlighted the heightened fire risk due to ongoing drought conditions and expressed gratitude to the individual who reported the fire to authorities.
Mayor Eric Adams said the Prospect Park brush fire was actively monitored
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in a post on X, shared that his office was actively monitoring the Prospect Park brush fire and that the FDNY, NYC Emergency Management, and NYC Department of Parks and Recreation were at the scene. The blaze followed several weeks of drought in the Northeast, driven by dry and unusually warm weather.
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services reported that strong winds, low humidity, and dry conditions significantly increased the potential for fires to grow.
In a post on X, Mayor Adams advised New Yorkers to remain vigilant and contact emergency services if they encountered a fire, warning that fires would easily ignite and spread rapidly under these conditions.
Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol reported that the city issued a red flag warning due to elevated fire risks, which led to several brush fires in New York and a wildfire in New Jersey.
He urged New Yorkers to avoid discarding cigarettes carelessly and to report any fires, as a passerby did that day. Iscol emphasized that extreme weather patterns like these were becoming the new normal, underscoring the importance of readiness for unexpected situations.
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Prospect Park, a 526-acre space with prominent landmarks like Grand Army Plaza and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, spans neighborhoods from Park Slope and Prospect Heights to Windsor Terrace and Flatbush.
Among its features are a zoo and a skating rink. Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue described the park as an invaluable community resource and a crucial urban forest, noting its role as Brooklyn’s oldest forest and a vital green space for the city.
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