Photo By Steve White
On March 11, at approximately 1615 HRS, an NYPD helicopter flying over Staten Island’s Gateway National Park spotted a large brush fire burning out of control. FDNY units were immediately dispatched, and a 10-75 was transmitted at 1717 HRS for an area of brush a half-mile long.
The fire was in four separate areas of the park, and smoke was visible from New Jersey. At 1753 HRS, Division 8 transmitted a third alarm, and an NYPD helicopter (Aviation 18) was requested for use of its Bambi Bucket to drop water to protect nearby homes. At 1840 HRS, a fourth alarm was transmitted and Fallback Step 3 was instituted citywide for a modified dispatch assignment. A fifth alarm was transmitted at 1925 HRS, when the fire began moving in two different directions, and surrounding homes were evacuated.
More than 50 fire vehicles and an estimated 230 firefighters responded, eventually extinguishing the blaze by 2140 HRS. Five homes sustained melted siding. The fire burned 75 acres.