If you were trying to get through East 198th Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon, you had plenty of company. FDNY crews were working in the area, and a NotifyNYC alert warned that road closures and heavy delays were likely. The notice said a visible emergency-services presence could disrupt mass transit and urged drivers to use alternate routes while crews remained on scene, covering the busy Jerome Avenue corridor right in the afternoon rush.
FDNY Activity: Expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel near East 198th Street & Jerome Ave, The Bronx. Use alternate routes.
— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) March 31, 2026
FDNY and NotifyNYC sounded the alarm
At 12:51 p.m. ET, the FDNY reposted a NotifyNYC message advising motorists to steer clear of the area if possible and to expect road closures, traffic delays and potential mass-transit disruptions. The alert pointed drivers toward alternate routes while firefighters operated on scene. You can see the original notice on the department's feed at FDNY on X.
What an "FDNY Activity" alert actually means
NotifyNYC and NYC Emergency Management use the "FDNY Activity" label when firefighters are actively operating at a location and there is a reasonable chance public safety or mobility could be affected. It is essentially the city's way of saying: something is going on, and it might impact how you get around. For more on how those alerts are issued and what residents should expect, visit the city's NotifyNYC portal at Notify NYC.
How drivers and riders should handle it
Drivers near East 198th Street and Jerome Avenue should plan for delays and use alternate routes until FDNY clears the scene, since lane closures or full street shutdowns are possible. Transit riders are urged to check the MTA's service advisories and build in extra travel time in case trains or buses are rerouted or slowed. For immediate emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency city service questions, contact 311 or use the city's online portal. Live information is available at MTA service status and NYC 311.
Local context
Jerome Avenue is a busy commercial corridor that has seen major FDNY responses in recent years. In March 2025, a five-alarm fire severely damaged multiple businesses along Jerome Avenue and briefly disrupted both traffic and transit service, a reminder of how quickly incidents on this strip can ripple across commutes. NY1 covered that earlier response.
We will update as agencies release more official details; residents and commuters should keep an eye on FDNY and NotifyNYC channels for the fastest confirmed information.
