This week, two deadly fires—one in Brooklyn and another in the Bronx—have highlighted a persistent problem in New York City: blocked fire hydrants.
In both fires, parked cars obstructed access to hydrants, delaying fire response, ABC 7 reports.
The most recent fire broke out in the Tremont section of the Bronx, engulfing a Buddhist temple that served as a hub for the local Thai community. Firefighters arrived within minutes of the fire being reported to find flames roaring through the temple and an adjacent building. They also found a car parked and immobilized by an enforcement boot directly in front of a fire hydrant, forcing them to navigate around the vehicle.
That fire killed two people, including a monk. Another monk was hospitalized for smoke inhalation but has since been released.
Blocked hydrants are not uncommon. Last year, the NYPD issued over 638,000 summonses for blocked hydrants. Investigators believe a space heater caused the Bronx fire.
