A thick smoke lingered over parts of New York City on Thursday as firefighters worked tirelessly against a concerning number of urban brush and wildfires, exacerbated by the historic drought affecting the northeastern United States.

A significant fire ignited in Inwood Hill Park, located where the Hudson and Harlem rivers meet, affecting nearly 200 acres, which includes Manhattan’s largest area of ancient trees. Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker noted, “thankfully,” there were no reported injuries among the 140 firefighters grappling with falling trees, rough terrain, and limited water access.

“There aren’t fire hydrants in a forest, so we had to source water from the Harlem River,” Tucker stated. “These conditions are quite dangerous for our firefighters.”

From October 29 to November 12, New York City’s fire department recorded a staggering 229 brush fires, marking a record for any two-week span. This total excludes the fire in Inwood Hill Park. The alarming trend appears across all five boroughs, including significant fires in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and Highbridge Park in the Bronx.

“The severely dry conditions we’ve experienced in October and so far in November have led to an unprecedented number of brush fires,” Tucker remarked. “We urge the public to stay alert.”

Julio Núñez, a resident of the area for 40 years, shared with the New York Times that he and his wife could smell the smoke from the Inwood fire while at their apartment, located eight blocks away. He frequently walks in the park.

“This is simply devastating,” he expressed. “I’m going to go home and cry.”

Drought affects the Northeast

The fires can be attributed to a severe drought impacting a significant area from Virginia to New England, with some red flag warnings for wildfires covering entire states. New York currently has a statewide burn ban in effect until the month’s end, which prohibits outdoor fires related to brush and debris, as well as campfires and open flames used for cooking.

According to the National Weather Service, Central Park recorded 3.9 inches of rainfall in October 2023, while this October had a mere 0.01 inches, following only about 1.5 inches in September. New York Mayor Eric Adams, alarmed by water shortages, has encouraged residents to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing their teeth, and repair leaking pipes.

Although rain is expected in some regions soon, meteorologists indicate that it will take much more to significantly moisten the currently parched land.

Persistent high-pressure system identified as cause

An unusual high-pressure weather phenomenon has been dominating the region for weeks, stifling any storm systems attempting to come down from Canada, according to Adam Douty, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, speaking to YSL News. The combination of dry air and hard ground hinders weak systems from advancing, he explained. Current conditions aren’t attributed to phenomena such as El Niño or La Niña, nor can they be directly linked to climate change, he noted.

“The situation will eventually change, and in a month everyone will be saying it’s raining every day,” Douty predicted.

While it’s challenging to directly attribute the fires to climate change, David Robinson, New Jersey’s state climatologist at Rutgers University, stated that the extreme conditions driving these fires are indeed closely connected to the impacts of climate change.

Brush fires are common in NYC, demand specialized skills

Although brush fires in the country’s most densely populated city might seem rare, they are becoming increasingly frequent, especially this unusually dry fall.

From 2020 through August 2024, the Fire Department of New York responded to over 400 fires across city parks, with nearly half of those (at least 182) categorized as brush fires, according to Gothamist, an online news source operated by New York Public Radio.

Incidents such as the recent Inwood Hill Park fire and last week’s fire in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park “underscore the ongoing drought and the climate patterns that are affecting areas throughout the United States and Canada—not just in the West or California,” remarked Joseph Ten Eyck of the International Association of Fire Fighters, a North American labor union.

Ten Eyck, who leads wildfire urban-interface programs for the IAFF, which trains fire departments across the nation, indicated that although 88% of fire departments engage in these situations, fewer than 40% have received specific training for them.

Fighting brush fires in large urban parks requires a unique set of skills beyond just extinguishing flames, such as conducting rescues or managing hazardous materials, he added.

“New York City parks are encircled by densely populated neighborhoods,“`html

There’s a risk associated with that as well,” Ten Eyck remarked. “That’s the reason we are preparing firefighters to handle all types of emergencies and hazards.”

− Jorge L. Ortiz

What does a red flag warning mean?

A red flag warning from the National Weather Service indicates that a combination of hot weather, extremely low humidity, and high winds is likely to heighten fire risks. These warnings are based on specific criteria, including relative humidity of 15% or lower and wind gusts reaching 25 mph or more sustained for three hours over a 12-hour timeframe.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs advises that residents should heed local fire department recommendations during a red flag warning and stay alert to anything that might cause a spark or fire.

The organization suggests avoiding driving on dry grass, properly extinguishing outdoor fires, and never leaving them unattended. When disposing of ashes and charcoal, soak them in water, and place them in a metal container, as they can sometimes ignite again days after a fire or barbecue has been put out. If you see unattended outdoor fires, report them to 911 immediately.