The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) reported on February 28 an instance where an individual received a citation for obstructing a fire hydrant during a lethal fire in the Bronx that occurred earlier that month, on February 12, 2025. The car that this individual had wrongly parked was hindering access to the nearest water source, situated plainly opposite the disaster-struck building, as revealed by Fire officials.
FDNY’s head, Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, made an announcement on Friday stating that his department’s Bureau of Fire Prevention had submitted a criminal court citation. This involved a hefty fine of $4,000, imposed due to violation of the fire code. It was unveiled that the same individual who had received the citation was also responsible for hampering the fire hydrant during the lethal fire in the Bronx that occurred the previous month.
The FDNY teams, on February 12, had attended a fire emergency at 2086 Anthony Ave. The crisis only intensified, reaching a third alarm status. Regrettably, the car that was wrongly parked tampered with both the nearest hydrant and primary water source, located directly opposite the scene of the fire.
The devastating fire resulted in the unfortunate demise of two individuals. The ignition source was found to be a space heater, contributing to a tragic event that affected the entire neighborhood.
This incident marked the second in less than a week’s time where an inappropriately parked car was obstructing a fire hydrant. A similar situation had arisen just three days prior, on February 9, at yet another tragic fire incident that happened in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
In the case of the Bay Ridge fire, it wasn’t just one, but two vehicles that were guilty of blocking access to the nearest fire hydrants. The unnecessary obstructions posed dire consequences, making it more challenging for the fire department to tackle the grave situation.
“In an emergency situation, every second counts, and obstructing a fire hydrant is an extremely thoughtless act. This reckless behavior risks lives and also exposes FDNY employees to avoidable dangers during their efforts to protect local residents,” expressed Commissioner Robert S. Tucker.
He continued, “Our Bureau of Fire Prevention has shown significant initiative and followed through rigorously in the aftermath of the multiple-alarm fire event in the Bronx. We are beginning to see the positive impact of these actions. I genuinely hope the heavy fine imposed serves as an eye-opener for all New Yorkers regarding the seriousness of blocking a fire hydrant.”
Hydrant obstruction is a serious breach of regulation stated under Section 507.5.4 of the New York City Fire Code, which strictly forbids making fire hydrants inaccessible or non-functional. This incident in the Bronx marked the inaugural utilization of this code in relation to a blocked fire hydrant.
In the jurisdiction of New York City, the act of parking within a 15-foot radius from a fire hydrant is deemed illegal. This law exists to keep the path to the fire hydrant clear at all times, allowing for immediate access in case of a sudden fire emergency.
New Yorkers are urged to play their part in keeping their city safe. If they encounter a fire hydrant being blocked by a vehicle, they can actively contribute by reporting the obstruction to the local authorities by dialing 311. Such minor acts can go a long way in saving crucial time during fire emergencies and could even be instrumental in saving lives.