YONKERS, SPRING VALLEY BLAZES CONTRIBUTE TO NEW YORK LEADING U.S. IN 2023 FIRE DEATHS
Steve LiebermanRockland/Westchester Journal News
New York again holds the unenviable distinction of having the most fatalities from fires in the nation — with five deaths in Spring Valley and one in Yonkers during the past week raising the state's 2023 total to 45.
Not even three full months into the year, New York's death tops Indiana at 29, Pennsylvania and Georgia at 25, and Michigan at 23, according to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, known as FASNY.
And New York's 2023 death toll continues a harsh trend of leading the nation in 2017, 2018 and 2019, tallying 834 deaths since 2017, according to FASNY. Following New York is Pennsylvania with 832 deaths, Texas at 777 and California at 743.
"New York can be proud of a good many positive things," FASNY Secretary John D'Allesandro said Thursday. "Unfortunately, fire deaths aren't one of them. We have led the nation in fire deaths. This is not a title we want to hold."
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NYS Firefighters association fighting for reforms
FASNY advocates protecting residents and first responders. The group, formed in 1872, represents an estimated 80,000 volunteer firefighters, including about 1,800 in Rockland. Volunteer firefighters, aside from saving taxpayer dollars, are the main responders to emergencies across the state, outside of paid departments in urban areas and cities. FASNY also represents emergency medical personnel.
FASNY's lobbying plans include pressing the state Legislature and governor to release funds designated for local governments to hire and train code enforcers; increasing the penalties for fire and safety code violations; and adopting a sales tax holiday for every October to encourage people to buy smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
FASNY officials said they plan to hold a news conference in Albany on Monday to outline their agenda. The lobbying season has started as the Senate and Assembly review Gov. Hochel's proposed budget for fiscal 2023-2024, which starts April 1.
FASNY President Edward Tase Jr. said code enforcement reform, tax-free smoke detectors, and adequately staffed volunteer fire departments are all factors that can contribute to a safer New York for all. He also cited the fire and safety code violations that exist and can remain hidden from under-staffed building departments. The state law also doesn't allow inspections of homes under three families without a court warrant.
“The number of home fire deaths in New York this year is startling,” Tase said. "These violations often lead to fire deaths. Local code enforcement programs are typically underfunded, creating an environment for dangerous housing situations."
While FASNY lobbies, Tase said: "We encourage all residents to ensure their smoke detectors are working and that there is at least one present on each floor of the home, and outside sleeping areas. The seconds a smoke detector can give residents during an emergency can truly be lifesaving.”
FASNY's demands include:
The state should provide earmarked funding to local governments to hire and train code enforcement officers, rather than keep depositing the promised money in the state budget's general fund. FASNY supports legislation (S.2986 / A.4430). Tase said taking enforcement funding away from localities hinders the ability of local municipalities to address dangerous code violations.
The state should adopt a sales tax moratorium on the purchase of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every October for Fire Safety Month. Local volunteer departments usually run campaigns on changing make alarms twice a year and seeking needed volunteers. FASNY said legislation (MOA Wallace) is awaiting introduction this session to allow home life safety products, like smoke detectors, to be exempt from sales tax.
The state should increase penalties for violations of state fire and building codes, as a deterrent to landlords who seek to increase profits by subdividing apartments and houses, allowing less expensive, uninspected electrical work and other additions.
Detectors and precautions can save lives
The fire deaths run collaterally with other issues facing the public and the fire services, D'Alessandro, and other fire service leaders said. FASNY and fire service officials said that many families may not have the financial resources to purchase detectors, putting them at greater risk of injury or death in the event of a fire.
"Whether it be a fire caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries or something as simple as home cooking, ensuring all homes have working smoke detectors will save lives," FASNY said. "Nationally, two-thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes where there are either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Battery-operated detectors can cost from $16 to $42 each. The ones with the lithium batters can last 10 years. Eliminating the sales tax could be a positive step. Many people take an out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitude toward detectors until the batteries run out and the ear-piercing beeping starts from weakening 9-volt batteries or smoke from cooking or there's a fire, officials said. In most cases, landlords are responsible to ensure the detectors are in place in common areas, rooms, and basements near heating and water systems.
"Any incentive to encourage homeowners, landlords, and apartment dwellers to purchase smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors is a home run," Rockland Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Chris Kear said of eliminating the sales tax. "They are an insurance policy, the first defense in a fire, especially if people sleeping."
Kear said more building and fire inspectors — especially in Rockland — would be huge. And training is always needed.
At 118 Lake St. in Spring Valley on March 4, five people — including two children — were killed. Several residents suffered burns and need hospitalization as one man jumped to safety from a second-floor window, police reports stated.
The investigation has not determined if the smoke detectors were working, Kear said. He said the condition and age of the Lake Street house likely played a factor in the inferno, which firefighters had under control within 45 minutes. Investigators say it's likely an electrical outlet problem that set off the fire. The fire could have been smoldering inside the walls long before being reported at 4:03 a.m., given the construction style from 1910.
"When they discovered the fire and called 911, the upstairs residents didn't know what was going on until it was too late," Kear said. "When we arrived, three-quarters of the house was fully involved. At first, they were trying to get in, but couldn't make headway due to the flames."
Spring Valley police reported the heavy smoke and flames blocked them from entering the building, and they tended to the people who made it out alive.
Code enforcement is an issue
Code enforcement has been a continuing issue in Rockland for years. The state, after being pressured, installed monitors to oversee the Ramapo and Spring Valley building departments. The state deputized the county government to inspect Spring Valley properties and prosecute violators as of February 2021.
The Lake Street fire brought attention to landlord Jacob Jeremias's property holdings and the need for more inspections. Rockland government inspectors went into several of his properties. Officials said inspectors found five violations and nine counts at 116 Lake St; 11 violations in the front apartment of 120 Lake, amounting to 44 counts; five violations in the rear apartment with nine counts; and six violations and 23 counts at 122 Lake St.
The Rockland Health Department inspectors also have gone to Jeremias's properties outside of Spring Valley. Theas the Spring Valley building inspectors and prosecutors of violations.
Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, D-West Nyack, and Sen. Bill Weber, R-Rockland, strongly advocate more stringent codes and penalties for violators. The governor signed his legislation in 2021 on enhancing daily penalties for violators.
Zebrowski said legislative priorities continue to include more stringent oversight of inadequate local building departments by the state’s code division and a funding program in this year’s budget to increase the capacity of local governments to inspect and enforce the code.
Weber said he has sponsored a Senate bill that authorizes Rockland municipalities to add unpaid housing code violation penalties, costs, and fines to the annual tax levy. He said he also supports the Senate bill to redirect funding to local governments for code enforcement.
"We must rapidly address safety issues and support our first responders at every level," Weber said.
Rockland is approaching the second anniversary on March 22 of Spring Valley Second Lt. Jared Lloyd, 35, being killed in the fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults, a few blocks from the Lake Street fatal fire. Adult home resident Oliver Huested, 79, died in the fire. Fire officials are encouraging residents to use a red outdoor light to honor Lloyd.
"The tragic fire in Spring Valley is yet another reminder that our local governments and New York State must do more to prevent deadly fires in our neighborhoods," Zebrowski said. "We cannot wait for another tragedy to happen. Immediate action is necessary."
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal.
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