Yesterday afternoon, more than 100 firemen worked together to put out a brushfire that ripped across 15 acres of Highbridge Park in upper Manhattan. Around 2:23 p.m., the fire started close to 155th Street and Harlem River Drive, according to the New York Daily News. For the rescuers, the fire’s location in an area known for its “extremely rocky and uneven terrain” caused many difficulties.
FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Duggan clarified, “So it was a labor intensive incident to get our folks and our equipment in place,” according to the New York Daily News. The absence of water supplies and hydrants in the region made fighting the fire much more difficult for the roughly 138 firefighters and medics who were on the scene. According to CBS News’ coverage of the incident, the firefighters were able to successfully contain the situation by yesterday evening.
The FDNY has established a new Brush Fire Task Force in response to the growing incidence of wildfires in New York that are being made worse by the state’s severe drought. In order to combat the growing wildfire hazard, Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker underlined the initiative’s emphasis on safety, prevention, and investigative activities. In a statement published by the New York Daily News, Tucker echoed the idea, saying, “By creating this task force, we are taking real action to prevent brush fires from occurring.”
In order to prevent the fire from reoccurring, firefighters would keep a close eye out for possible hotspots, according to additional CBS News coverage of the event. The cause of the Washington Heights fire is still being investigated, and the deputy commissioner for parks has issued a warning to New Yorkers not to utilize open flames in park areas due to the recent increase in brush fires.
The fire’s effects on traffic were also noticeable; during yesterday evening’s commute, Harlem River Drive and a few interchanges were closed, causing significant delays. Before the Washington Heights fire broke out, the newly established Task Force—which included fire marshals, fire inspectors, and tactical drone units—was working on a fire in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. In the days after the fire, this team will search the Highbridge Park neighborhood to identify the cause, according to the FDNY.
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