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.”

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.”

Following the recent brush fires, which now also include one in Highbridge, fires in Van Cortlandt Park, and more recently, two fires, including one large one in Van Nest, which appears to have stemmed from a brush fire, as well as wildfires in New Jersey and in Upstate New York, New York City Mayor Eric Adams took additional measures on Saturday, Nov. 9 to mitigate the increased risk of more such fires amid a historic streak of dry weather in the 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.

• 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.