Firefighters Contain Brush Fire in Washington Heights, FDNY Confirms

The fire broke out near the border of Washington Heights and Harlem at West 155th Street and Harlem River Drive around 2:20 p.m. Highbridge Park, known for its lush, hilly terrain, posed significant challenges to the firefighting efforts.

According to FDNY officials, 10-15 acres of dense brush burned in the park's most rugged sections, where water access was scarce. A total of 138 firefighters and medics responded, deploying hoses from Edgecombe Avenue to combat the blaze. The situation escalated to a three-alarm fire before being contained.

Fortunately, no injuries or structural damage were reported. Firefighters are working through the night to investigate the cause of the fire and extinguish lingering hotspots, with fire engineers ensuring the area remains safe from rekindling flames.

This incident coincides with New York City’s recent designation of a drought warning—the first in 22 years—amid ongoing dry conditions in the Tri-State area. Authorities are urging residents to adhere to fire safety guidelines, which include prohibitions on barbecuing, grilling, and smoking in city parks.

Residents are also being asked to conserve water as part of the drought mitigation efforts. Officials stress that any sightings of unauthorized flames should be reported immediately by calling 911.