The Fire Department put out a large area brush fire in the Spring Creek Park Preserve, around 159th Avenue and 78th Street in Queens—and discovered two bodies.
At around 4:14 a.m., the FDNY received a 911 call about the fire. The FDNY was on the scene at 4:18 a.m., declaring it a brush fire at 4:28 a.m. and an all-hands situation at 4:32 a.m. The fire rose to two alarms—WABC 7 reports, "Firefighters were battling two large sections of burning brush, with flames so intense they could be seen from the Belt Parkway." The fire was under control by 6:13 a.m.
The FDNY said two bodies, DOA, were found at the scene. The fire is apparently deemed suspicious.
The Parks Department website says, "Spring Creek Park Preserve is the largest undeveloped salt marsh in northern Jamaica Bay, and runs between Queens and Brooklyn. Along with several other parks in the area, such as Four Sparrow, Marine Park, and Fresh Creek Park, it plays a vital role in the protection and preservation of Jamaica Bay."
