UPDATED Tuesday, April 19, 3:53 p.m.
All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village did not suffer any significant damage as a result of several small brush fires that broke out on Monday afternoon, it was reported.
According to fire officials, FDNY received a call about the fire at 2:16 p.m. and there were 12 units and 65 firefighters on hand to combat the blaze at 67-29 Metropolitan Ave.
The fire was brought under control just before 5 p.m., the FDNY said.
Reportedly, the fire started in a field close to Christ the King Regional High School, a few hundred feet south of Metropolitan Avenue, that is used for the disposal of floral arraignments. No graves were damaged or even in danger of being affected, a cemetery representative told QNS.
Conditions were ripe for brush fires on Monday due to a combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the New York City area for Monday and Tuesday due to the potential for brush fires.
No injuries were reported. Cemetery officials believe the fires may have been sparked by an errant, smoldering cigarette butt being tossed into the cemetery, but nothing has been confirmed by the FDNY.
