AGENCY TESTIMONY
Surge in brush fires in New York City during fall 2024
0:14:54
ยท
60 sec
Chief Esposito details the significant increase in brush fires experienced in New York City during the fall of 2024. He provides statistics to illustrate the severity of the situation and emphasizes the growing threat.
- Brush fires increased from about 120 in October-November 2023 to over 500 in the same period of 2024
- More than half of the 2024 fires occurred during a single two-week period
- The scale of brush fires also increased, with some growing large very quickly
- While no loss of life or property damage occurred, the fires destroyed parkland and endangered firefighters
John Esposito
0:14:54
In New York, we experienced an historic surge in brushfires last fall.
0:15:00
To give you a sense of the increase, in October November of 2023, the city experienced roughly 120 brushfires.
0:15:09
In October November of 2024, that number jumped to more than 500.
0:15:15
More than half of those came during a single 2 week period.
0:15:19
The scale of the brush fires increased as well, Whereas most brush fires in previous years were small and relatively easy to contain, some of the fires in 2024 grew quite large very quickly.
0:15:34
We were fortunate to avoid any loss of life or any residential or commercial property damage, but these fires destroyed parkland and endangered the firefighters who responded to them.
0:15:46
We cannot afford to underestimate the threat of brush fires and the possibility they could become more dangerous for people and property in the future.