FDNY douses blaze inside Riverdale Park

Two New York Fire Department trucks from house No. 52 put out a forest fire in a wooded area on Riverdale Park Trail Sunday night.

Ed Eiseman, a neighbor walking on the trail off Palisade Avenue near West 233rd Street, noticed the blaze and called 911 around 8 p.m.

“I went down to the area to see if anyone was around and the extent of the fire,” Eiseman said. “About 50 feet away, I saw (a woman) who was also on the phone with 911. She left and I took some pictures of the tree going up and ambers on the ground lighting up the grass and twigs.”

According to Eiseman, the fire department responded in minutes, but didn’t have access to a fire hydrant and had to hook up hoses their truck. “They had to set up at least eight hose lengths to reach the area,” he said. “They asked if there was a way to get closer. I suggested calling the railroad about any access near the (Metro-North) tracks.”

The fire department was able to douse the fire quickly as they worked through the darkness, heat and humidity.

There were no injuries reported and a cause is being investigated.