QUESTION
What progress has been made on the outreach for electric space heater safety as required by Local Law 65 of 2022?
1:57:48
·
109 sec
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provide educational outreach on electric space heater safety as mandated by Local Law 65 of 2022.
- Kevin Woods mentions FDNY focuses on educating the public about the dangers of using extension cords with space heaters and the importance of room attendance while heaters are on.
- A reduction in space heater fires from 2022 to 2023 is reported, indicating the effectiveness of the outreach.
- AnnMarie Santiago highlights the ABCs of Housing, which dedicates a page to fire safety tips including space heater safety.
- The HPD encourages using the ABCs of Housing as a resource for tenants to ensure home safety.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:57:48
Next local law 65 of 2022 required FDNY to provide educational materials and provide outreach on the safe operation of electric space heaters in residential settings.
1:57:58
Can you provide an update that is specific to the outreach conducted as a result of this local law?
Kevin Woods
1:58:05
Yeah.
1:58:05
So when we perform fire safety education, we do concentrate on space heaters, say, safety.
1:58:12
And we also concentrate on seasonal safety.
1:58:17
So we want people to know that You have to you can't use an extension cord with a space heater.
1:58:23
There's a tremendous load, and a lot of people use power strips.
1:58:26
That's an extension cord.
1:58:27
And that's where the education comes in.
1:58:30
The electricity in these buildings, it's very old.
1:58:35
And we don't want people having these space space heaters on when they're not in the room that's being heated and also when they're sleeping.
1:58:46
Right?
1:58:46
Also that space heater needs clearance as well.
1:58:49
So this is a message that we are trying to to get across.
1:58:53
We're very happy that we have been getting that across with the reduction of space heatifiers from 22 to 23.
AnnMarie Santiago
1:59:00
And I would like to add counsel member if I can, as you know, the new ABCs of housing.
1:59:04
A whole page is dedicated, page 7 to fire safety tips.
1:59:08
And that does cover gives space heater space, the lithium ion batteries, extension cords, kitchen safety, clear exits, and escape plans.
1:59:18
So we do encourage tenants.
1:59:20
You know, hopefully, it's in a very easy to reformat for them amongst other things that they need to know about keeping their home safe.
1:59:27
And we would encourage, you know, that to be used as a resource.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:59:30
Great.
1:59:31
Thank you.
1:59:31
Thank you, commissioner.
1:59:32
Yes.
1:59:33
Plug for the ABCs of housing.
1:59:34
It's a lot of very, very good and useful information.