New York City’s record-breaking increase in shrub fires has prompted the establishment of the first Forest Fire Special Task Force by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
Comprised of firefighters, fire inspectors, and tactical drones, the task force will investigate the causes and origins of each fire, as well as provide recommendations on how to prevent future incidents.
“Due to severe lack of rainfall, shrub fires ignited by dry vegetation and windy conditions have rapidly spread, leading to a historic surge in shrub fires across New York City,” stated FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker. “By creating this special task force, we are taking concrete steps to prevent shrub fires, devising regulations to ensure the safety of our members on the scene, and striving to determine the causes of these fires post-incident to ensure the future safety of New Yorkers.”
In the first two weeks of November, the New York City Fire Department responded to 271 shrub fires, marking the highest number of incidents in a two-week period in the city’s firefighting history.
Last Wednesday afternoon, two shrub fires occurred in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park; on the same day, a shrub fire broke out near a golf course in Marine Park, Brooklyn. The day before, two shrub fires occurred in Highbridge Park in Manhattan. A week prior, on November 8th, a large shrub forest fire engulfed Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
The alarming increase in shrub fires has raised concerns among city officials and residents, prompting proactive measures to address the underlying causes and prevent further devastation. The newly formed task force is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding the city and its inhabitants from the threat of shrub fires in the future.