FDNY fire-safety educator urges smoke-alarm, charger and space-heater precautions; committee votes to request funding for equipment

At an evening meeting of the Housing, Land Use and Public Safety Committee, Jerry Rocco, a fire-safety educator with the Fire Department of New York, outlined common causes of residential fires and urged residents to check alarms, avoid unsafe charging and space-heater practices, and keep exits clear. Committee members then voted to send a letter to local elected officials asking for funding for smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers.

Rocco opened by stressing prevention and planning, saying, “Fires do not discriminate. Fires start for many different reasons. We cannot prevent every fire. We prevent what we can.” He reviewed household risks highlighted in recent incidents, including a multi‑building fire on Wallace Avenue that left “a couple of hundred people displaced,” and a fatal Bronx fire about three years earlier that he said resulted in 17 deaths.

Why this matters: Rocco told the committee that small mistakes — a space heater plugged into an extension cord, batteries charged while people sleep, or a grease fire extinguished with water — can cause fires to grow rapidly. He emphasized two practical rules for residents: keep two clear exit routes from living spaces, and ensure functioning smoke alarms and carbon‑monoxide (CO) alarms are installed in recommended locations.

Most important safety steps Rocco recommended include: installing a smoke alarm in every bedroom and a CO alarm on every level; testing and replacing alarms when needed; keeping a Class ABC fire extinguisher mounted near room entrances and usable (the PASS method: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep); and not charging large batteries (including e‑bike batteries) while sleeping. He also advised against using power strips or extension cords for space heaters and said space heaters should be placed at least 3 feet from combustibles.

Rocco gave several practical details during the presentation: smoke alarms should not be the only alarm outside bedrooms, because bedroom doors can be closed and noise from TVs or air conditioners may block the alert; many home fire extinguishers degrade or cake over time and typically have an 8–10 year useful life; a common household ABC extinguisher costs roughly $35 and can last a decade; and, he said, fires can double in size every 30 seconds. He recommended baking soda for small grease fires and warned never to pour water on grease.

On building types and behavior, Rocco told the committee that residents in ‘‘fireproof’’ buildings — generally concrete-and-steel, seven stories or greater — may be advised to stay in place if the fire is in another apartment, whereas residents in non‑fireproof buildings should evacuate immediately. He said open apartment doors and open attic/roof spaces can allow smoke and fire to spread quickly.

Committee business tied to safety: after the presentation a committee member moved that the board send a letter to Community Board 11’s local political representatives requesting funds for smoke detectors, carbon‑monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers. The motion received a second, no opposition or abstentions were recorded on the transcript, and the motion was carried. The transcript does not identify the motion’s mover or seconder by name.

Members also discussed the Department of Social Services’ request for names to serve on a community advisory board for Blondell Avenue and asked staff to circulate the contact information and submission instructions to the board.

The FDNY educator said the department’s outreach unit attends schools, churches, senior centers and street fairs and that the department will return with updates if an investigation into the Wallace Avenue fire produces a formal report. Rocco offered for residents to contact his office for alarm needs and said a city program to distribute alarms is being reworked; he invited individuals with immediate needs to contact him directly.

Questions from board members and residents at the meeting covered landlord responsibilities for alarms and extinguishers, the limits of city inspections in private homes, disposal or recycling events for old extinguishers, and whether FDNY consults on building HVAC design (Rocco said newer buildings often use split heating units that may reduce reliance on space heaters).

The committee requested follow-up: an invitation to a precinct officer to present statistics for the Wallace Avenue area at a future meeting, and an update next month if FDNY’s investigation yields a report. The board’s letter request will be prepared for local representatives and will seek funding or an organized program to distribute and install smoke and CO alarms and provide fire extinguishers to residents.

Ending: The committee agreed to include the item on next month’s agenda for updates on the Wallace Avenue investigation and the community advisory board outreach. Members also encouraged continued FDNY outreach and biannual safety presentations.