The tragic fiery homicide of a sleeping straphanger in Brooklyn this week illuminated a important flaw within the metropolis subway system — hearth extinguishers will not be accessible to the general public.
Fireplace extinguishers are available solely to MTA employees in monitor tunnels and cubicles, the transit company confirmed Thursday, drawing outrage from native leaders who say the girl’s demise may have been prevented.
“The MTA [has] a billion-dollar working price range. They make investments thousands and thousands of {dollars} in cameras at stations however haven’t any cash for accessible hearth extinguishers?” raged Rev. Kevin McCall, who organized a vigil for the yet-to-be-identified sufferer Thursday.
Questions have mounted over why nobody bothered to assist the girl as she burned in an F prepare on the Coney Island station on Sunday after she was set on hearth by an unlawful Guatemalan immigrant within the sickening assault. Disturbing video confirmed bystanders, together with an NYPD cop, strolling proper previous the blazing lady.
An MTA employee in the end snuffed out the flames, but it surely was too late to avoid wasting her — the sufferer was burned past recognition and nonetheless has not been recognized.
Within the wake of the tragedy, the MTA stated it doesn’t have plans to put in hearth extinguishers on board trains or platforms.
“Fireplace extinguishers can be found to MTA personnel & emergency companies; MTA doesn’t make the most of hearth blankets,” Dave Steckel stated in an electronic mail.
As a substitute, prepare automobiles are outfitted with indicators encouraging straphangers to alert MTA crew of any emergency, together with in case of fireside. Trains will not be geared up with hearth extinguishers.
McCall, the founding father of the Disaster Motion Middle, additionally condemned the cop who was caught on digicam strolling previous the girl as she was engulfed in flames.
When requested what he anticipated the officer to do with out accessible extinguishers available, McCall stated he ought to have discovered one other method to put out the fireplace.
“The officer may have taken off his jacket and wrapped it across the sufferer in an try to assist, he may have referred to as for backup on his walkie-talkie, he may have run to seek out some water however he didn’t do something however stroll backwards and forwards, you may see it within the movies,” McCall stated.
Metropolis Council lawmakers echoed McCall’s outrage fury over the dearth of entry to fireplace retardants within the subways, which boasts an estimated 1.4 million every day ridership, based on the MTA.
Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), whose district covers the station the place the homicide occurred, slammed the “grotesque incident” as a “tragic end result of a number of damaged and failed techniques we’re experiencing as a metropolis, state, and nation: immigration, housing and homelessness, psychological well being, and crime and security on our subways.
“We should do all the pieces we will to make sure this by no means occurs once more and we should make sure the perpetrator of this horrific crime by no means enjoys one other breath of contemporary air.”
Joann Ariola (R-Queens), chair of the NYC Council’s Committee on Fireplace and Emergency Administration, expressed shock that extinguishers weren’t available on the platforms.
“On the very least, there must be safe extinguishers that first responders and MTA personnel can entry within the occasion of an emergency at each platform. This looks like frequent sense, particularly given the potential for monitor fires and different points that may require a quick response,” she stated.
David Carr (R-Staten Island) echoed Ariola’s sentiments, including that the flame retardants “must be in a recognized location at each station within the occasion they’re wanted by MTA workers or first responders and it’s ridiculous that they aren’t. It’s a fundamental security safety for employees and the general public.”
Fellow Staten Island Republican Joe Borelli blamed the incident on the nation’s ongoing migrant disaster, the brunt of which has fallen on the Large Apple.
”It’s unclear why prepare platforms needn’t be geared up with hearth extinguishers like different public buildings, but it surely’s one thing the Council ought to have a look at. Joe Biden took 94 govt actions on the border on day one, and this poor woman paid the invoice. Trump and Homan can’t come to our aide quickly sufficient,” he stated.
Metropolis Corridor didn’t instantly return The Publish’s request for remark.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, has been charged with the grisly homicide, however a motive for the crime is just not but clear. He’s due again in courtroom Friday.
The person — whose buddies claimed was a heavy drinker and a K2 abuser — allegedly dedicated the disturbing act simply 5 days after a damning report by the MTA Inspector Basic uncovered the risks of the crumbling subways.
Throughout a sample-sized audit, investigators discovered that seven extinguishers stashed away in emergency storage within the subway tunnels had not acquired their required month-to-month inspections. Some went unchecked for as much as three months.
Investigators additionally discovered three emergency telephones had no dial tone and one alarm field had a damaged cowl amongst a plethora of different security considerations.
Steckel stated the MTA was working to treatment the shortcomings, however didn’t elaborate on any particular plans.
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