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NYC bans open flames and fireworks amid historic drought
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NYC bans open flames and fireworks amid historic drought

New Yorkers will not be able to enjoy open fires or fireworks for the foreseeable future. Mayor Eric Adams has temporarily banned these activities as the city grapples with a historic drought.

Permits for open fires and fireworks in city parks have been withdrawn, while permits for street or water events are being reviewed, according to the mayor.

It is the latest step in the city’s efforts to tackle the drought caused by a severe lack of rainfall. The FDNY responded to 217 wildfires in the first two weeks of November – the most ever recorded in such a short time, according to city officials. Homes around Jennings Creek, near the New York state-New Jersey border, were evacuated as a large fire continued to burn through the area.

The suspension of open flames and fireworks follows the city’s first drought warning in decades, which was issued Monday. The warning requires city agencies to implement water conservation measures.

β€œThe actions we are announcing today will help prevent new fires, protect our natural areas and our air, and keep New Yorkers safe,” Adams said in a statement Wednesday.

Outdoor fires were banned and New Yorkers were discouraged from grilling outside earlier this month. The MTA also saves water by cutting back on the frequency with which trains, buses, bridges and tunnels are cleaned.

City residents are being urged to take shorter showers, reduce water consumption and pick up litter to prevent fires.

Meanwhile, the FDNY launched its first-ever wildfire task force on Sunday to address the growing number of fires caused by dry conditions.