FDNY has battled record number of brush fires in NYC
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Neighbors and visitors to parks in New York City are watching the grounds and scanning the skies.
Where there's smoke, there are firefighters.
The FDNY reported that firefighters have responded to more than 230 brush fires in the past two weeks. That record is higher than the average during the past three years.
The FDNY was back on the scene in Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan on Friday morning. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke around 9:30 a.m.
On Wednesday, a larger fire popped up covering about four acres in the wooded area of Inwood Hill Park.
The FDNY is still investigating the causes of both fires.
Hot spots are always a concern. It's steep and dangerous ground to fight brush fires in one of the oldest forest areas in the city.
Mark was out for a walk on a pleasant Friday afternoon among the changing leaves.
"I'm grateful they showed up as quickly as they did. FDNY and Parks. I grew up in these woods. It's a shock to see it close to home," he said.
Paths wind around Inwood Hill Park and people are asked to exercise extreme caution. Smoking is not permitted in parks.
While working the interior area on Friday, some Parks crews found and removed an encampment.