FDNY Disciplines Seven Over Deadly Bank Blaze
By VICTORIA CAVALIERE
Updated 3:58 PM EST, Wed, Jun 24, 2009
Seven fire officials have been penalized for failing to perform adequate safety inspections at the Deutsche Bank building, where two firefighters died when they were unable to escape or access water while trying to fight a massive blaze.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today announced the penalties, saying they are “both fair and appropriate.” Two of the officers, a captain and a deputy chief, have been permanently stripped of their commands.
The fire at the Deutsche Bank building on Aug. 18, 2007, was linked to a lit cigarette. Firefighters Joseph Graffagnino Jr. and Robert Beddia were killed in the subsequent inferno. The building at the edge of the ground zero was being decontaminated and deconstructed at the time of the blaze.
A scathing report conducted by the city’s Department of Investigation found that both the FDNY and the Department of Buildings performed shoddy inspections or failed to inspect the building before the deadly incident.
In one instance, an inspector warned in June 2007 that a breach in a standpipe had to be fixed and tested, but the test was never done.
That failure meant that a break in a pipe in the basement — meant to deliver water in case of a fire — was missed.
Investigators later said the inability of firefighters to escape the fire was tied to the failure of city inspectors to note that construction crews had dismantled nearly four feet of the basement portion of the standpipe.
Firefighters also found that their primary means of escape, the staircases, had been improperly sealed, investigators found.
The report found failures by the FDNY at various levels to conduct basic inspections of the site. It also noted a lack of communication and dozens more shortcomings.
“Inspections are a critically important function of the Department and the failure of company officers to perform them -- and the failure by supervisors to ensure they are being completed -- is a serious breach of their responsibilities,” Scoppetta said.
Manslaughter charges have been brought against three construction supervisors and a subcontractor in connection with the fatal blaze.
Today, the FDNY said the following fire officials would face penalties, as well:
· Deputy Chief Richard Fuerch, permanent loss of command at Division 1 and disciplinary reprimand, for failing to properly enforce regulations and orders relating to the inspection of buildings in Division 1.
· Captain Peter Bosco, permanent loss of command at Engine 10 and disciplinary reprimand, for failing to control and be responsible for the inspection of buildings in his administrative district.
· Deputy Chief Paul Cresci, 1st Division, disciplinary reprimand for failing to properly enforce regulations and orders relating to the inspection of buildings in Division 1.
· Deputy Chief John Bley, 1st Division, disciplinary reprimand for failing to properly enforce regulations and orders relating to the inspection of buildings in Division 1.
· Deputy Chief Roger Sakowich, 8th Division (formerly assigned to Battalion 1), disciplinary reprimand for failing to supervise the inspection of buildings in Battalion 1 and failing to see that all relevant regulations and orders were strictly enforced.
· Battalion Chief Ronald Schmutzler, 1st Battalion, disciplinary reprimand for failing to supervise the inspection of buildings in Battalion 1 and failing to see that all relevant regulations and orders were strictly enforced.
· Battalion Chief Robert Norcross, 1st Battalion, disciplinary reprimand for failing to supervise the inspection of buildings in Battalion 1 and failing to see that all relevant regulations and orders were strictly enforced.
First Published: Jun 24, 2009 2:07 PM EST
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