Wildland Fires at Gateway NRA

NPS PHOTO

NPS Firefighters begin a direct attack at the Great Kills Blow Up Fire which occurred from Sept 8-17, 2010.

Although Gateway National Recreation Area is located in the largest urban center in the country, wildfires are a constant threat to the parklands and communities that border the park.

Throughout New York City and in Monmouth County, New Jersey wildfires occur during all times of year. When wildfires strike, park fire management works closely with other agencies, especially the FDNY to ensure fires are extinguished quickly and damage to property is reduced. http://www.nps.gov/fire/fire/fir_wildland.cfm

Great Kills Park Fire, September 2010

Great Kills Park, part of the Staten Island Unit of Gateway, suffered the worse fire in the parks history on September 8-17, 2010. This wind driven blaze threatened homes bordering park property and displaced wildlife from their habitats. The fire consumed 145 acres of the park, mainly grasslands. This became the largest wildfire in NYC since April 1963.

REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS FIRES TO:

(NYC) United States Park Police at [phone].

(NJ)  United States Park Rangers at [phone]