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Report: FDNY, DOB Failings Before Fatal Deutsche Bank Fire
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 20, 2009
Modified Jun 20, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 20, 2009
Modified Jun 20, 2009
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The city's Department of Investigation says that the Fire Department and Department of Buildings failed to inspect the former Deutsche Bank building in the months leading up to the August 2007 seven-alarm fire that claimed two firefighters' lives. For instance, a DOB inspector told his supervisor that there was a breach in a water standpipe, but the supervisor allegedly told him to leave it out of his report. The Daily News points out, "If the test had been carried out, inspectors would have discovered a more serious issue with the standpipe - preventing the tragedy that claimed firefighters Joseph Graffagnino Jr. and Robert Beddia." The DOI report also reiterated claims that the FDNY didn't inspect the building as it should have, "Everyone had tunnel vision." Graffagnino's father lamented to the News, "Why didn't they do anything about it? They couldn't do anything right." You can read the whole report here (PDF).
Tagged
department of buildings
deutsche bank fire
DOB
fdny
inspections
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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