The parks provide refuge for residents of a go-go-go city. But they also make the area more prone to brush fires during droughts. From Nov. 1-Nov. 14, amid a historic dry spell, there were 271 fires, the most over a two-week period in city history.

New York is battling its largest wildfire in 16 years, with firefighters now containing about 90% of the affected areas. Officials warn that ongoing drought conditions and strong winds could escalate the damage,