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Dangerous Fire Conditions Could Have Urban Camping Plans Up In Smoke
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 27, 2011
Modified Jun 27, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 27, 2011
Modified Jun 27, 2011
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Earlier this month, federal officials announced a plan to revitalize the campgrounds at Floyd Bennett Field, promising $10 million worth of developments to create the nation's largest urban campground, which may someday hold up to 600 campsites. But today comes word that all the new plans may be overlooking some basic safety concerns, like whether or not the Field's fire hydrants actually work.
The FDNY told the Post that more than half of the 100 hydrants at the Field either don't work, or don't have the water pressure necessary to put out fires. "It's insane," said environmentalist Ida Sanoff, adding "All you need is one out-of-control campfire or some boob camper flinging a lit cigarette." But that's okay! Because the National Parks Service says that if there does happen to be a giant fiery outburst, firefighters can just suck water of of the nearby Jamaica Bay (a plan the FDNY called "very impractical and too time-consuming."). The nearest firehouse is in the Rockaways, about a mile away over the Marine Parkway Bridge.
Unfazed by fire hazards? Sign up for a family camping night at the Field (which, for now, has 47 campsites), and remember: only you can prevent, ahem, urban campground fires.
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camping
campsite
fdny
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fire safety
floyd bennett field
Jamie Feldmar
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