MANHATTAN, N.Y. — Several small fires broke out in Central Park on Tuesday afternoon in an apparent act of arson, according to the NYPD.
The fires began in the Great Hill area of the park near West 107th Street.
Firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 1:30 p.m. and had the flames under control shortly after 3 p.m., according to the FDNY.
The Central Park Conservancy said their operations staff inspected the locations after the fires were extinguished and reported that there was no significant damage, adding that ground cover and natural mulch, including leaves, were burned.
Witnesses in the park said they saw a man wearing green pants and a black jacket setting fires in the area, police said.
A woman who lives near the park told NY1 that she could see white smoke from her apartment window as the fires burned.
“It was white smoke, plumes of smoke coming up and increasing. At first, it was just a little bit of smoke and then there was a lot of smoke – white smoke coming up through the trees,” she said. “I've never seen fire in Central Park.”
No injuries were reported and no trees were damaged by the fires.
Authorities said no arrests had been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-8477, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.