Q&A
Bushfires in Bronx parks during drought and potential preventive measures
0:56:00
·
3 min
Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. inquires about bushfires that occurred in Bronx parks during the recent drought and potential preventive measures. He asks if DEP has plans to work with the Parks Department on creating water irrigation systems in fire-prone areas.
- The Parks Department representative explains that while brush fires occurred in several boroughs, including the Bronx, there are no current plans for irrigation systems in natural areas.
- The focus is on staff observation, careful monitoring, and close collaboration with FDNY for quick responses to fires.
- The representative notes that infrastructural solutions for preventing bushfires in natural areas are challenging to implement.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:56:00
Thank you.
0:56:00
Thank you, mister chair, and, good morning.
0:56:04
I just have a few questions.
0:56:06
So the borough of the Bronx, I think, is the, borough that has the most green space out of all 5 boroughs.
0:56:11
And I know that, council member, Cristy Marmorado has the biggest green spaces and then followed by, you know, council member, Van Corland Park.
0:56:21
You have Van Corland Park, then, Cortona Park.
0:56:24
I know that during the drought, there were some bushfires in the Bronx.
0:56:29
Does the, does DEP have any plans or future plans on having conversations with the parks department on creating some type of water irrigation system in certain areas that are prone to, you know, have a bushfire based on what we just experienced now?
Paul Rush
0:56:50
So that's a question is on the parks, the trees?
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:56:54
Well, I mean, in terms of the parks department can't do that alone without the Department of Environmental Protection.
0:57:00
Are are there any conversations?
0:57:02
And the answer may be no.
0:57:03
But are there any potential conversations moving forward with what we just experienced now, knowing that this can happen again next summer, or there could be a drought, and there are areas that are prone.
0:57:15
Obviously, we know that there are areas that are prone for bushfires.
0:57:18
What is your agency doing to work with your sister agency to, to to address those issues so that we can avoid that from happening?
Paul Rush
0:57:27
So we've been coordinating through OEM or NISIM with the other city agencies.
0:57:32
I have a colleague here from Parks who could answer the question.
Jim Gennaro
0:57:37
I, but but, before that happens, the witness would have to be sworn.
0:57:41
Sure.
0:57:42
So the counsel will do that.
0:57:43
It's not gonna come off to your time.
0:57:45
You take as long as you want.
0:57:46
Mhmm.
0:57:47
So we're gonna swear the witness, and then, when you give your answer, just state your name for the record.
Matt Drury
0:57:52
Sure.
0:57:53
My name is Matt Drury.
0:57:54
I'm the chief of citywide legislative affairs for New York City Parks Department.
Jim Gennaro
0:57:57
Okay.
0:57:58
You gotta do the the the
UNKNOWN
0:57:59
These are your right
Jim Gennaro
0:58:00
hands.
0:58:00
Confirmation?
UNKNOWN
0:58:02
Confirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but truth, and to answer all council member questions honestly?
Matt Drury
0:58:07
I do.
0:58:08
Thank you.
0:58:09
So it's a good question.
0:58:10
There were, several incidents of brush fires in the first, couple weeks of November, during the drought conditions.
0:58:16
1 or 2 notable ones in in the Bronx, in addition to Brooklyn and and, Queens as well.
0:58:21
And the the the the there is definitely a natural our natural areas are, you know, tens of thousands of acres throughout New York City, and, brush fires such as they are are sort of part of the conditions that we're always gonna monitor for.
0:58:35
So I'm not aware that there's a plan for irrigation per se or sort of you know, since these are natural areas, forests, you know, marshes, areas like this, I think it's just from a practicality, standpoint.
0:58:47
I think it's kind of difficult to think of systems that could be installed.
0:58:51
But, staff observation, careful monitoring, really close work with f FDNY to make sure that there if and when there is a response, that is extremely quick and that these these situations are are are that they're the damage is is, limited and mitigated as as much as possible.
0:59:03
But I wouldn't say that there's, like, a larger, limited and mitigated as as much as possible.
0:59:06
But I wouldn't say that there's, like, a larger infrastructural solution that that would be that's a that that I understand is being contemplated.
