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Q&A
Monitoring and controlling access to evacuated buildings after fires
0:36:42
·
159 sec
Council Member Joann Ariola questions representatives from FDNY, DOB, and HPD about procedures for monitoring and controlling access to buildings evacuated due to fires.
- FDNY sets up restricted areas and may request NYPD assistance for crowd control during active fires.
- DOB becomes involved after the fire is extinguished, focusing on structural and egress issues.
- DOB may implement vacate orders and request building owners to secure the premises or hire private security.
- HPD typically follows up on actions taken by other departments regarding building security.
Joann Ariola
0:36:42
Alright.
0:36:43
And when a building is evacuated due to structural fire, who monitors the access to the scene and prevents unauthorized access to the building?
0:36:51
Does the fire department have designated personnel at the scene of the fires to engage with the crowd for control efforts, or does that then go to another agency?
John Esposito
0:37:00
So during a fire, depending on the the number of people, we we we set up, you know, set up the the tape, you know, restricted area.
0:37:14
And if it's a large number or there there are issues, we would notify the police department to, you know, to to come and enforce the, you know, the the the restricted area.
Joann Ariola
0:37:26
And is that the same for DOB?
0:37:28
Is that is that your process?
Yigal Shemash
0:37:31
Typically, the Department of Buildings doesn't get involved when the when the building is being actively fought by FDNY.
0:37:40
Once the fire is extinguished, then we will take over if there are structural issues with the building or egress issues with the building.
0:37:50
If the owner
Joann Ariola
0:37:52
is there I was talking about after evacuation.
0:37:54
Yeah, I know you're certainly not going to put the fire out, but certainly after evacuation, how does it work from there?
0:38:03
Is there someone on-site?
0:38:04
Is there someone that you leave behind so that there isn't illegal access to the building where people would be unsafe?
Yigal Shemash
0:38:11
So once we're called to the fire, we have an emergency response team that operates 20 fourseven, and we'll respond to FDNY or NYSM's referral.
0:38:26
We will if if the building is accessible, again, depending on the amount of damage, most buildings we can access.
0:38:36
Sometimes we can't though.
0:38:39
If we can access, we will do an inspection.
0:38:41
We will determine if any of those six conditions that I mentioned with regards to a vacate is present.
0:38:49
We will implement the vacate order as necessary.
0:38:54
In terms of security for the building, if the owner is present, we will ask them to secure the building.
0:39:00
If necessary, hire their own private security in order to secure the building.
Joann Ariola
0:39:06
Okay.
0:39:07
Great.
0:39:07
And HPD buildings, what is your process?
AnnMarie Santiago
0:39:11
Thank you, council member.
0:39:13
Generally, we're at the tail end of this.
0:39:14
Mhmm.
0:39:15
So we're really just following through with whatever the other departments have already done in terms of that security issue.