Brush fire breaks out in Brooklyn's Prospect Park amid prolonged drought

A severe drought was continuing to grip the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states on Saturday, a day after dry and windy conditions sparked a fire at an iconic green space in New York – Brooklyn Prospect Park.

The fire ripped through the park’s forested area, engulfing about two acres in an area called the Ravine, according to the nonprofit organization. Brooklyn Park Alliance. On Friday night, flames were seen tearing through thick trees in a 526-acre New York City park in the middle of the borough.

A passerby reported smoke coming from the fire around 6:40 p.m., New York City Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker told reporters. Extremely dry vegetation and high winds contributed to the two-alarm fire in the rugged, dense brush area that was difficult for firefighters to access, FDNY officials said.

Firefighters spent the night there to monitor conditions after extinguishing the fire about three hours after the initial call. The cause of the fire was not determined as of Saturday morning.

No buildings were damaged in the park, which is the favorite place of Brooklyn, which has statues, a zoo, a carousel, dozens of athletic and recreational facilities, and is famous for its wetlands and trees. On Saturday, the carousel was closed due to poor air quality conditions and visitors were warned to use caution when entering the park.

New York experiences the driest October in history

New York City, a region not known for wildfires, is under drought watch after the driest October in history, increasing the risk of fires, Mayor Eric Adams said. social media.

“It’s 70 degrees in November and Prospect Park is on fire,” he said.

New Jersey fires cause unhealthy air quality

Those living in a metropolitan area may see or smell smoke from wildfires. Border of New York and New JerseyCity Emergency Management said: social media.

Multiple fires in New Jersey have threatened dozens of structures and burned hundreds of acres. NorthJersey.compart of the USA TODAY Network, reported Saturday morning that flames were burning fall leaves on the ground as far as a highway in Pompton Lakes, northwest of New York City.

Saturday morning, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory regarding unhealthy levels of particulate matter for vulnerable groups such as young children and people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or heart disease. State officials advised residents to limit strenuous outdoor activities.

Red flag warnings on the East Coast

Red flag warnings were in place for the New York metropolitan area, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts on Saturday due to strong winds, relatively low humidity and dry conditions, the National Weather Service said. US Environmental Protection Agency AirNow indices it also showed that Massachusetts had unhealthy air quality due to wildfires north of Boston.

One Special Weather Notification The weather service, which stretches from Washington D.C. to New England, warned of increased wildfire risks across the region. Authorities urged residents to be careful of potential ignition sources such as machinery, cigarettes or matches.

“In case of any fire, weather and fuel conditions may cause fires to quickly get out of control and become difficult to control,” the statement said.

(This story has been updated to add new information and a new video.)

New York experiences the driest October in history

New Jersey fires cause unhealthy air quality

Red flag warnings on the East Coast

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