New Yorkers Awaken to Smoky Scent Amid Brush Fires
On Saturday morning, residents across New York City were greeted by an unsettling smoky aroma, a stark reminder of the brush fires that ignited the previous day in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and parts of nearby New Jersey. This unusual occurrence has raised concerns in a city that seldom faces wildfires, especially in the midst of a drought.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality alert for the city, along with Rockland and Westchester Counties, effective until 11 p.m. on Saturday. Desi Yvette, a 36-year-old resident of Williamsburg, was among those who experienced the eerie scent firsthand. She recalled waking up in the middle of the night, perplexed by the smoky smell.
“It was close to 2 a.m. and I found it difficult to sleep,” Ms. Yvette shared while strolling with her Maltese mix, Midas. “Initially, I thought there might be a fire nearby, but the absence of sirens led me to believe it wasn’t an emergency. Still, the smell was quite unpleasant.”
Unbeknownst to her, a brush fire had broken out in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on Friday evening, scorching two acres in a densely wooded section. “It’s astonishing that the scent has spread all the way over here,” she remarked. “This week has felt like a series of disasters.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the multiple wildfires currently raging across New York State, emphasizing that the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and the Catskills region were particularly vulnerable. In response to the situation, Governor Hochul announced the deployment of a “multi-agency response” to tackle the fires engulfing hundreds of acres in Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange Counties.
Firefighters in New York City responded to the Prospect Park fire, receiving the first call around 6:40 p.m. on Friday. The firefighting effort involved over 100 emergency responders and took approximately three hours to fully extinguish the blaze, according to a spokesperson from the Fire Department.
