FDNY Launches Brush Fire Task Force As Upper Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park Faces Another Wildfire Amid Citywide Drought

Firefighters in Upper Manhattan have once again been called into action to contain a brush fire at Inwood Hill Park. The blaze, which erupted around 10 p.m. Yesterday evening, is the latest in a series of wildfires that have scorched the city, raising concerns amidst a backdrop of dry conditions and increased fire risk. As reported byABC7NY, the FDNY has been closely monitoring Inwood Hill Park since a significant fire on November 13, which has since destroyed at least four acres of land.

The recent string of fires has prompted a new response from the FDNY. The department is launching a Brush Fire Task Force, which will be comprised of fire marshals, inspectors, and will additionally utilize tactical drone units to better address the wildfire threat. According to a statement obtained byPatch, FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker highlighted the unprecedented challenge faced by the city, “Due to a significant lack of rainfall, the threat of fast-spreading brush fires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions have resulted in an historic increase of brush fires throughout New York City.”

This proactive measure follows a record-setting two weeks in which firefighters were called to address 271 brush fires across the city the highest in its history for such a period. The formation of the task force seeks not only to more effectively respond to these incidents but also to prevent them from occurring and to maintain safety for both the public and the firefighters.

The New York City area has been officially placed under a drought warning, marking the first such designation in 22 years, asABC7NYnoted. This dry spell continues to create challenges for battling flames, as experienced by fire crews fighting the Inwood Hill Park fire, who grappled with difficult terrain and a scarcity of water resources. As crews work to extinguish this second fire in Inwood, officials are urging New Yorkers to limit their water use to help mitigate the ongoing drought conditions.

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