By Gus Saltonstall
“Pyromaniac on Riverside Drive,” read a recent email sent to West Side Rag.
The email included a video of a man on Friday moving a piece of trash from a nearby pile on Riverside Drive, between West 106th and 107th streets, to a less crowded section of the sidewalk.
The man then bends down and lights the piece of trash on fire. He proceeds to walk away before doubling back and stoking the flames, the video shows.
FDNY confirmed to West Side Rag a rubbish fire at the location on Friday at 10:39 p.m., which firefighters were able to put out in 10 minutes.
“Fortunately, the weather was mild and no wind,” the person who sent us the video, but wished to remain anonymous, wrote. “Typically, Riverside Drive is known for being breezy and often higher windy weather conditions.”
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Someone’s also set at least 2 fires inside Riverside Park in one of the upper preserve areas.
This was a controlled burn. Wish we had somewhat more respect for neighbors just trying to take care of our neighborhood.
Linda Rosenthal offers free shredding services. That is the responsible thing to do. Once again, we are making excuses for antisocial behaviors that place others at risk . Are you the person who did this and perhaps the community should arrange for you to spend a day with the fire fighters to learn about fire prevention and the risks of pyromania? Are you aware of what happens in California?
What “CARE” is he trying to take of our neighborhood by starting an open fire on a sidewalk, next to a park which has a lot of dry brush in it? Seriously, dude, can you respond in a cogent way?
What???
The person was disposing of sensitive papers in a metal trash can that was set upon a non burning surface. Cannot get more controlled than that.
He walked away.
How do you know that? How do you know that there were “sensitive papers,” or that they were in a metal trash can? Are you the person in the video? Whatever types of “sensitive papers” they were , DOES NOT justify starting an open fire on the sidewalk next to an open park area. WHAT is WRONG with you?
Next to a Park? At 10:40pm? Clearly “taking care of the neighborhood” was top of mind!
Why don’t we get rid of Dept of Sanitation and start burning all our trash in the streets? I think that would really show our “respect”.
Would he like to borrow my shredder? Because that’s kind of a better option…
Similar to the man who turned the water faucet on the other week
Sometimes you have to get rid of evidence
Jerk. Hope he’s caught.
WSR, please do not take my comments down. I have volunteered in Riverside Park for 23 years, in an area along that Drive/Service Road area, and I take issues along there seriously. We need to find out who this firebug is and make sure he does not start any more curb fires.
That was his earlier trash containing the murder evidence. He’d had second thoughts about just putting it out with others’ trash in front of not his building. So he came back to burn it.
No arrest? These people are killers.
Epstein files?
It was 3 boxes with kids shoes in for what looked like a 3 to 5 year old.
Often people will put out things on the street that can still be used.
But it is possible that he may have been carrying the epstein files.
We will never know.