NYC Bans Grilling in Parks After Prospect Park Wildfire Amid Historic Drought

NYC Bans Grilling in Parks Due to Drought and Wildfire Risk

<img width="640" height="480" src="https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_0962.jpg?w=640" alt="Burned tree in wildfires at Prospect Park" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_0962.jpg 640w, https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_0962.jpg?resize=384,288 384w, https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_0962.jpg?resize=50,38 50w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" title="NYC bans grilling in parks after Prospect Park wildfire amid ongoing dry spell 1">

A burnt tree at the site of Friday’s brush fire in Prospect Park. Photo by Ben Brachfeld

New York City has banned grilling in all public parks following a brush fire in Prospect Park this weekend. The city is facing drought conditions after more than a month without significant rainfall, making it the second longest dry spell since 1869.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement urging New Yorkers to take common sense steps to prevent brush fires, saying “getting through this drought will take all of us working together, and every drop counts, so let’s keep doing our part to save as much water as we can.”

The fire in Prospect Park damaged two acres in the Nethermead and left one firefighter with minor injuries. Upstate, an 18-year-old state parks worker died battling a fire in Sterling Forest near the New Jersey border.

Air Quality Concerns

Smoke from the wildfires has been affecting the New York Metropolitan Area all weekend. The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for the city, with the air quality index reaching levels that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”