Brush Fire in Spring Creek Park -- Queens/ Brooklyn -- Saturday, April 10

Multiple fire engine companies were dispatched at 3:47 p.m. Saturday to fight a large brush fire in Spring Creek Park (Queens / Brooklyn) near 83rd Street between 161st and 162nd Ave. (right next to Gateway National Park). This photo was taken from Downtown Brooklyn at 3:55 p.m. Saturday. By 4:15 the fire seemed in control but five minutes later it flared up again.

National Weather Service radar picks up smoke here. Click map to enlarge.

UPDATE 4:36: The Fire Dept. reports that six different areas of brush are on fire. There are eight lines stretched in operation, two tower ladders set up and operating, and one deck gun operating.

UPDATE: 4:50 p.m.: The pockets of fire have been knocked down, no smoke can be seen from Brooklyn.

UPDATE: 5:02 p.m. The FD reports that the fire is out.

According to the Parks Dept., Spring Creek Park Preserve is the largest undeveloped salt marsh in northern Jamaica Bay, and runs between Queens and Brooklyn.

From their web site:

"The Park’s large salt marsh supports a variety of wildlife, including great blue herons (Ardea herodias), red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), as well as animals such raccoons (Procyon lotor) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethica)."

Top photo by MK Metz
Bottom photo courtesy of NYD Dept. of Parks and Rec.

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