BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) – A large brush fire broke out at Prospect Park in Brooklyn Friday night.
A passerby first spotted the fire around 6:40 p.m., according to the FDNY. Two acres of the park were on fire at one point. Citizen App video showed a wooded area of the park up in flames.
FDNY officials said more than 100 firefighters responded and brought the fire under control. Firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to ensure it doesn't reignite.
"There are some hotter spots. As the wind picks up, there might be a spark or something. But we are leaving fire companies here for the purposes of mitigating any small fires that might happen. It's very wet up there now. We have a lot of water up there now, so we don't think that there is any threat to future fires tonight," FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker said.
No injuries were reported. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation.
New York City is currently under a drought watch amid a historic stretch of days without significant rainfall.
"NYC is under a fire risk Red Flag Warning due to dry conditions and strong winds," Mayor Eric Adams said Friday night. "We urge all New Yorkers to stay vigilant and call 911 if they see a fire. Any fire that sparks will catch and spread quickly in these conditions."
Earlier in the week, multiple brush fires broke out at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, underscoring the severity of the dry conditions.
Wildfires were also burning in five New Jersey counties on Friday as portions of the state experience some of the worst drought conditions in the country.
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.
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