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Firefighters battled a bushfire in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park through the night Wednesday as two additional blazes ignited at other city parks amid a record-shattering dry spell in the Big Apple. 

The Inwood blaze began at around 3 p.m. and spread rapidly across a 400×400-foot stretch of brush, with a plume of smoke reaching as far as three miles south to the George Washington Bridge, officials said.


  A brushfire broke out in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park on Nov. 13, 2024. Peter Gerber A brushfire broke out in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park on Nov. 13, 2024. Peter Gerber

  Firefighters are rushing to put out the blaze, as more brushfires occur during NYC’s unprecedented dry spell. Peter Gerber Firefighters are rushing to put out the blaze, as more brushfires occur during NYC’s unprecedented dry spell. Peter Gerber

As many as 140 smoke-eaters fought the three-alarm fire through the night — utilizing Marine units, multiple mobile units, drones and the integral Brush Fire units, according to FDNY brass who said the inferno created “very treacherous conditions for our firefighters.”

“This is going to be a long operation. We’ve been here awhile, we’ll be here all night and into tomorrow morning,” FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said at an 8:20 p.m. press conference from the scene. 

The fire department told residents in the area to close their windows and avoid entering the park as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, which was “almost under control” at the time of a press conference Wednesday night.


  The fire started around 3 p.m. Peter Gerber The fire started around 3 p.m. Peter Gerber

  The FDNY has warned local residents to close their windows and avoid the area. Peter Gerber The FDNY has warned local residents to close their windows and avoid the area. Peter Gerber

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods reported that FDNY first responders were forced to draw water from the Harlem River and stretch hoselines up a hill over 150-feet to reach the fire that burned within the park. The department also used drones to help get a hold on the scope and severity of the fire.

“[It’s a] very, very dangerous operation,” Woods said. “We actually had multiple trees that collapsed. Extremely dangerous for our members.”


  The blaze is considered a two-alarm fire, according to officials. Peter Gerber The blaze is considered a two-alarm fire, according to officials. Peter Gerber

Tucker said that the inferno is unlikely to be the last fire the boroughs see over the historically dry stretch coupled by high winds.

He also addressed two other brushfires that burned Wednesday.

“There are two more, there’s another going on in Queens right now. As these dry conditions continue, we anticipate that we will see more of these before rain comes,” Tucker said at the news conference.

Those other brushfires were in Highbridge Park near 166th Street and Edgecombe Avenue in Manhattan and in Alley Pond Park in Queens.


  The brushfire in Highbridge Park near 166th Street and Edgecombe Avenue Christopher Sadowski The brushfire in Highbridge Park near 166th Street and Edgecombe Avenue Christopher Sadowski

The fire in Queens was a two-alarm fire that stretched over a 400×300-foot area near the tennis courts of Alley Pond Park, according to FDNY officials. Smokeeaters got that blaze under control Wednesday night and reported no injuries.

The brushfire at Highbridge Park was being battled by the FDNY through the night. Officials say eight units have been sent in response to the blaze.

“We anticipate that we’ll see a few more of these, and then there will be some rain, I’m sure, coming,” the fire commissioner added. 

The National Weather Service issued a “Red Flag Warning” for New York City about the increased risk of brushfires due to strong winds and dry conditions.


  FDNY battles the fire in Highbridge Park on Wednesday. Christopher Sadowski FDNY battles the fire in Highbridge Park on Wednesday. Christopher Sadowski

A massive brushfire spanning northern New Jersey and New York broke out earlier this week, torching more than 7,000 acres along Greenwood Lake’s eastern edge, according to News 12 New Jersey. That blaze, known as the Jennings Creek fire, is only 30% contained.

Between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, the FDNY has responded to 229 brushfires across the five boroughs, the highest amount in any two-week period in the city’s history. 

Manhattan reported 24 brushfires in that period, with 67 in the Bronx, 56 in Queens, 51 in Brooklyn, and 17 in Staten Island. 

“Remarkably dry conditions in October and so far in November have resulted in a historic amount of brush fires over the last two weeks and we need the public to remain vigilant,” Tucker said.

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