To Prevent the Spread of Deadly Fires, NYC Increases Penalties for Buildings that do not Provide Self-Closing Doors

By Yehudit Garmaise

Five months after 17 NYC residents, including eight children died from inhaling the smoke of a devastating fire at Twin Parks apartment complex in the Bronx, Mayor Eric Adams signed a new law that could prevent similar tragedies.

To best prevent fires from spreading throughout buildings, one important fire code to which all NYC buildings must adhere is to ensure that all doors are self-closing, says the legislation that was sponsored by Bronx City Council Member Oswald Feliz.

After the FDNY found that the door to the apartment in which the tragic Bronx fire started did not close properly, Mayor Adams raised the penalties and fines for all NYC building that violate self-closing door requirements, new12 reported.

In addition, the FDNY investigation revealed that the fire’s source was a malfunctioning space heater, another new NYC law makes selling any space heaters that do not include safety features illegal.

City lawmakers also said they want to better educate residents on what to do in cases of fires, G-d forbid.