Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Wildfires in NYC? We Got 'Em!
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Mar 27, 2008
Modified Mar 27, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Dave Hogarty
Published Mar 27, 2008
Modified Mar 27, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Police arrested a man for allegedly starting a fire that disrupted traffic along the Henry Hudson Parkway yesterday. The blaze required 60 firefighters to extinguish. While no one was injured, but the median between the north- and south-bound parkways were blocked for an hour as 12 FDNY units were required to put out the urban wildfire.
The suspected arsonist is a homeless man believed to be emotionally disturbed. The fire was noticed as park staff found the homeless man tending a fire in order to boil a pot of water to wash his clothes. After he fled, the fire spread out of control. Park officials are wondering if the culprit is the same person who set a similar-sized fire at the southern end of Ft. Tryon Park earlier this week.
Drier vegetation and stronger winds contribute to the brush fire conditions and there have been brush fires reported all over the city recently, including on Roosevelt Island, in Queens, and on Staten Island. Here are brush fire safety tips from the FDNY.
Tagged
brush fire
fdny
fire
henry hudson parkway
homeless
manhattan
wild fire
Dave Hogarty
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.
By
Carol Chen
News
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.
By
Mike Hayes
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .