Photo courtesy of Frank da Cruz
The FDNY said a brush fire broke out in the Williamsbridge Oval park in Norwood on Saturday night, Nov. 16. The park is surrounded by several, multistory residential buildings in close proximity.
A fire department spokesperson said they received a call from 3288 Reservoir Oval East / Holt Place at 8.25 p.m. for a report of a brush fire in the park. They said three units responded to the scene and the fire was brought under control at 9.50 p.m.
Local resident Frank da Cruz told Norwoood News, “About 8:30 last night, I happened to look out my window and saw a fire starting in the park — on the south side between the promenades and the playground. I called 911 immediately; they didn’t seem to know about it already.”
Photo courtesy of Frank da Cruz
He added, “I told them where it was, and within 5 minutes police cars were there and maybe a minute later, fire truck(s). I’m not sure if there [was] more than one.”
As reported, several brush fires have broken out across the City in recent weeks, amid a drought watch.
Following the recent brush fires, including one in Highbridge, several in Van Cortlandt Park, and two in Van Nest, which appear to have stemmed from a brush fire, as well as wildfires in New Jersey, other parts of the City, and in Upstate New York, New York City Mayor Eric Adams took additional measures on Saturday, Nov. 9 to mitigate the increased risk of such fires amid the historic streak of dry weather in New York City and in the counties upstate that host New York City’s water reservoirs.
As reported, effective Saturday, Nov. 9, Adams said grilling / barbeques were banned in New York City parks while the City remains under drought watch, while smoking and other sources of open flame remain illegal throughout the parks system.
Photo courtesy of Frank da Cruz
The mayor had previously shared the following reminders with New Yorkers of how they can do their part to conserve water. Some simple tips include:
- reporting open fire hydrants and street leaks to 311;
- not flushing the toilet unnecessarily;
- Taking shorter showers, saving five to seven gallons a minute;
- not runnng the tap while shaving, washing hands, or brushing teeth;
- fixing keaks, since they can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA;
- running the dishwasher and washing machine only when full;
- installing water-saving fixtures, including low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as faucet aerators; and
- sweeping driveways and sidewalks clean rather than washing them down with a hose.
Screenshot courtesy of Stephanie Coggins
Following the various recent fires, as per the attached screenshot, Inwood Hill Park Conservancy recently posted a notice, writing that the group believes the latest brush fires may be being started deliberately. We’ve asked the FDNY for comment and will share any updates we receive.
For tips, visit DEP’s Water Savings Tips website.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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