From Brooklyn to Boston Ablaze: The Unexpected Rise of Wildfires on the East Coast

The Unexpected Fires in NJ and NY

Two weeks ago, a wildfire broke out in the unlikeliest of places: New York City. A 2-acre fire erupted in Prospect Park, close to the geographic center of Brooklyn and probably my favorite park on earth. For the first time in history, the FDNY launched a brush fire task force to put it out (it’s been snuffed now!), but it was only one of 271 brush fires across the city during the first two weeks of November. Meanwhile, there are at least 11 major wildfires burning up and down the East Coast right now, from Boston to Virginia.

This coast is not usually on fire, and the causes seem pretty straightforward: drought + heat = flames. It hasn’t rained more than a half-inch in NYC since September 29, and it’s been hotter than usual for November. As of a few weeks ago, all but two states—Alaska and Kentucky—hadn’t seen any rain since September. It’s almost like the atmosphere dumped all its moisture on us during Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Milton, and now it’s on PTO. Wherever there are (a) trees with dried-out leaves, and (b) a stray cigarette, there may be fire.

Wildfires in Unlikely Places: A New Reality

Red flag warnings in New England, indicating fire weather—hot, dry, windy conditions—have been issued repeatedly since late October. These warnings are common in the West, but extremely rare in the Northeast. This isn’t normal. Back in the 1970s, the idea of wildfires along the I-95 corridor in November was simply inconceivable.

Historical Context and Changing Climate

This fall, over 500 wildfires have ignited in New Jersey alone. In the past two weeks, parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania where developments meet wild lands, known as the wildland-urban interface, have faced threats to homes. A 5,000-acre fire burned for more than a week on the New York-New Jersey border, prompting voluntary evacuation orders after breaking through containment lines.

Human Impact and Unfolding Tragedies

Recent tragedies highlight the severity of these fires. Last month, a firefighter was killed and two more were injured by a vehicle while fighting a wildfire in Berlin, Conn. On Nov. 9, an 18-year-old New York State employee was killed fighting a fire in Sterling Forest State Park. These incidents are rare in the Northeast, but they are becoming more common.

We are reminded that we share this world. Smoke knows no boundaries, and neither does fire. This isn’t just a “bad year.” Globally, 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history, and that record is already being broken. This year is on track to be one of the driest autumns in U.S. history and the first full year where global temperatures rose 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. Prolonged elevated heat stresses natural systems, making forests and grasslands more flammable.

A New Era: The Post-Holocene

Thanks to the relentless burning of fossil fuels, we are departing the Holocene epoch, the Goldilocks zone of relative climate stability that enabled us to build the world as we know it over the past 12,000 years. We must recognize this moment for what it is: the beginning of a new era of civilizational retreat, contraction, and consolidation. Climate scientists have seen this coming since the 1950s, and petroleum companies have been denying and deflecting the unwanted attention ever since. The failure of imagination—basing future estimations on limited past experiences—has brought us here.

In 2016, the Fort McMurray, Alberta fire drove the largest, most rapid evacuation from a wildfire in modern times. Despite detailed weather forecasts predicting extreme fire weather, the first evacuees were alerted by neighbors and family members. These fierce southern fires are creeping steadily northward with rising temperatures, intensifying and becoming more lethal than ever. It’s hard not to see echoes in global trends. These November fires symbolize the forewarned scorching of our political norms: the detailed forecast, the abundant precedents, the myopic faith in old laws and methods that might somehow contain this volatile new energy.

Considering Safer Relocation Options

Given the growing frequency and intensity of these wildfires and other extreme weather events, you might be thinking about relocating to a safer area. Here are some places in the U.S. that are considered more resilient to climate change:

1. State College, PA: Known for its mild summers and winters, with no expected droughts or flooding.
2. Wichita, KS: Recognized for its resilience to climate change, with a moderately low risk of extreme weather.
3. Spokane, WA: Often cited as one of the most climate-resilient cities in the U.S.
4. Eugene, OR: Another city with high climate resilience.
5. Lincoln, NE: You mentioned this area already, and it’s a good choice due to its lower risk of climate-related disasters.

These places offer a higher degree of safety and may be good options for relocation given the increasing climate risks.