FDNY asks public to be 'vigilant' as extreme dry conditions persist, threatening more brush fires

FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker on Wednesday added his name to the list of leaders warning about the threat posed by brush fires and, amid parched conditions, the need to stay vigilant or risk seeing more in the near future.

Tucker, in a statement, described the recent string of brush fires, which have included several in New York City, on Long Island and statewide, as "historic."

He said "a significant lack of rainfall" had upped the threat of "fast-spreading brush fires fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions." He urged anyone who sees smoke where they shouldn't to call 911.

The commissioner's comments came a day after Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statewide ban on outdoor burning through the end of the month, and the National Weather Service had extended a warning of severe fire risk for Long Island and the region until 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to have Long Island and much of southeastern New York at the D1, or moderate drought level, indicating trees and landscaping have become "stressed" due to the lack of precipitation, increasing the likelihood of fires of all types. The weather service has recorded just trace amounts of rainfall across Nassau and Suffolk dating to August — and noted that no rain is in the forecast at least through next Wednesday.

Thursday through Sunday will remain dry, but humidity levels and wind speeds are forecast to stay below levels that could trigger another fire warning.

Long Island firefighters have battled about two dozen brush fires, mostly in Suffolk County, in the past week. A Medford volunteer firefighter was charged with arson after he allegedly sparked both a brush and vehicle fire in the community Tuesday, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Suffolk fire officials said Wednesday there had been no reports of active brush fires in the county, and Medford firefighters managed to extinguish the last traces of one near Twelve Pines Park by early Wednesday.

For New York City, Tucker said, the FDNY responded to 229 brush fires citywide between Oct. 29 and Tuesday — the highest two-week total for reported brush fires in city history. The FDNY said, by comparison, there were just 200 reported brush fires recorded in the three previous Octobers combined.

Hochul's fire ban includes campfires, bonfires and any other open flame. Grilling has been banned in city parks, said Tucker, adding that smokers should dispose of cigarette butts and matches properly to avoid a sparking a fire.

With Nicholas Grasso

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”