The FDNY Installs Brush Fire Detection Cameras in High-Risk Areas
October 23, 2025
The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Robert S. Tucker today announced that the Department has installed multiple brush fire detection cameras in select City parks as part of its continuing efforts to combat brush fires across the five boroughs following a historic number of brush fire incidents in 2024.
"These cameras serve as an early warning system, capable of identifying smoke or flame activity in real time, even in remote or high-risk areas," said FDNY Commissioner Tucker. "This is about using innovative tools to protect our communities and our members—helping us detect and extinguish fires faster, before they have a chance to spread."
The solar-powered cameras, which use artificial intelligence to detect smoke and flame activity, are positioned high above the ground, similar to traffic cameras, and provide live video feeds to the Fire Department Operations Command (FDOC). The FDNY selected sites based on data analysis showing a pattern of repeated fire incidents, high foot traffic, and dense vegetation. The cameras have been installed in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Edgecombe Park and Highbridge Park in Manhattan, and at the Marine Park Golf Course in Brooklyn. Additional camera placements are under review.
The Department formed the Brush Fire Task Force in 2024 after a historic uptick in brush fires citywide. Comprised of fire operations, fire marshals, fire inspectors, and the FDNY Robotics Unit, the task force helped ensure rapid and effective responses to brush fires, conducting comprehensive investigations to help determine the cause and origin of each fire, and provided enhanced data and information sharing to prevent fires from occurring.
Brush fires can spread rapidly, fueled by dry vegetation and windy conditions. The FDNY reminds New Yorkers to avoid outdoor burning, properly discard cigarettes and matches, and call 911 immediately if they see signs of fire.