NEW YORK CITY-Tents, sleeping bags and other belongings were cleared from the site of the “Occupy Wall Street” protests early Tuesday morning after the New York City Police Department and park owner Brookfield Office Properties ruled it a public health concern. Protesters were notified at 1 a.m. to immediately vacate the park in order to minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood and to reduce the risk of confrontation.

Protesters will be allowed to return to the park after the area is cleaned, but will not be allowed to camp out, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during a press conference. “The law that created Zuccotti Park required that it be open for the public to enjoy for passive recreation 24 hours a day,” Bloomberg said. “Ever since the occupation began, that law has not been complied with, as the park has been taken over by protestors, making it unavailable to anyone else.”

The city’s decision was also driven by public safety and fire hazard concerns. Bloomberg said the park had become covered in tents and tarps, making it next to impossible to safely navigate for the public, and for first responders who are responsible for guaranteeing public safety. “The dangers posed were evident last week when an EMT was injured as protestors attempted to prevent him and several police officers from helping a mentally ill man who was menacing others,” he said. “As an increasing number of large tents and other structures have been erected, these dangers have increased. It has become increasingly difficult even to monitor activity in the park to protect the protestors and the public, and the proliferation of tents and other obstructions has created an increasing fire hazard that had to be addressed.”