Grilling has been banned in New York City parks while the five boroughs remain under drought conditions, Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday.
The decision comes after several wildfires burned in or near the city Friday, including a brush fire in Prospect Park.
The regional wildfires came amid abnormally dry weather in the city. October was the driest month in 155 years, and Adams said the city has seen 120 brush fires in the past 10 days.
The mayor issued a citywide drought watch on Nov. 2. An air quality health alert is also in effect for the area until Sunday due to smoke from wildfires in Englewood, New Jersey.
A red flag warning, meanwhile, was issued for the city until 6 p.m. Saturday.
“As New York City’s historic streak of dry weather creates new safety risks, today, we are taking additional measures to keep New Yorkers safe,” Adams said in a statement Saturday, adding that he needed New Yorkers “to take common sense steps to prevent brush fires.”
“Getting through this drought will take all of us working together, and every drop counts, so let’s keep doing our part to save as much water as we can,” he added.
In a release, Adams issued several reminders aimed at preventing more fires, noting that smoking is illegal in city parks and on construction sites and fireworks are illegal in the five boroughs.
He also recommended New Yorkers clear excessive leaves and brush from the sidewalks around their homes and businesses.