Breaking: FDNY On Scene Of Brush Fire Near Gerritsen Inlet Bridge

FDNY Marine Units are underneath the Gerritsen Inlet Bridge, dousing the beach with water in an effort to quell a brush fire.

The fire broke out on the eastern bank of the waterway, across from Plumb Beach. Reader Bill W. sent us the above photo, taken at 1:00 p.m.

Brush fires remain an ongoing problem in the relatively untamed areas of Plumb Beach, Gerritsen Beach and Floyd Bennett Field. We reported in March about a brush fire in Gerritsen that took three hours to get under control. At Floyd Bennett Field, park activists were outraged to learn that more than half of the fire hydrants were broken when evaluated in 2011, and say that plans to add campsites and a natural gas pipeline in the park create a serious threat in light of potential for similar fires.

This is a breaking news story and may contain inaccuracies. We will update it as more information becomes available. If anyone has more information or additional photos, please send them to tips (at) sheepsheadbites (dot) com.