Climate Corner: Forest and Brush Fires

Welcome back to this issue’s Climate Corner! In this installment, we will discuss the recent brush and forest fires that have broken out all across the New York area. In the early weeks of November, if you smelled a campfire in the air, it was due to unexpected brushfires and wildfires in Prospect Park and the Palisades. From November 8th to 9th, Prospect Park erupted into a brushfire. The fire’s root cause was a drought that plagued the city for weeks: it was one of the most extensive droughts in recent New York history, prompting state officials to issue the state’s first drought watch since 2002. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the park, but it created a ton of smoke which polluted the air.

I spoke to one Trevor junior who lives near Prospect Park to hear her thoughts on the fire. She was surprised by the sudden outbreak — in the middle of night, she smelled an intense campfire and shut her window, confused about what occurred. The fire’s ash traveled to Uptown Manhattan, smokey air filling the city skies. In addition, forest fires in the Palisades, New Jersey broke out. From parts of the West Side Highway, the view of the Palisades was utterly terrifying and burnt. Forest fires pose risky issues with the air quality, which jeopardizes the health and safety of all people in affected areas, especially those with cardiovascular issues. As individuals living in New York’s urban environment, November’s unexpected and unprecedented events have drawn our attention to the frequency and severity of forest fires.