The tragic fiery murder of a sleeping straphanger in Brooklyn this week illuminated a critical flaw in the city subway system — fire extinguishers are not accessible to the public.
Fire extinguishers are readily available only to MTA workers in track tunnels and booths, the transit agency confirmed Thursday, drawing outrage from local leaders who say the woman’s death could have been prevented.
“The MTA [has] a billion-dollar operating budget. They invest millions of dollars in cameras at stations but have no money for accessible fire extinguishers?” raged Rev. Kevin McCall, who organized a vigil for the yet-to-be-identified victim Thursday.
Questions have mounted over why no one bothered to help the woman as she burned in an F train at the Coney Island station on Sunday after she was set on fire by an illegal Guatemalan immigrant in the sickening attack. Disturbing video showed bystanders, including an NYPD cop, walking right past the blazing woman.
An MTA worker ultimately snuffed out the flames, but it was too late to save her — the victim was burned beyond recognition and still has not been identified.
In the wake of the tragedy, the MTA said it does not have plans to install fire extinguishers on board trains or platforms.
“Fire extinguishers are available to MTA personnel & emergency services; MTA does not utilize fire blankets,” Dave Steckel said in an email.
Instead, train cars are outfitted with signs encouraging straphangers to alert MTA crew of any emergency, including in case of fire. Trains are not equipped with fire extinguishers.
McCall, the founder of the Crisis Action Center, also condemned the cop who was caught on camera walking past the woman as she was engulfed in flames.
When asked what he expected the officer to do without accessible extinguishers on hand, McCall said he should have found another way to put out the fire.
“The officer could have taken off his jacket and wrapped it around the victim in an attempt to help, he could have called for backup on his walkie-talkie, he could have run to find some water but he didn’t do anything but walk back and forth, you can see it in the videos,” McCall said.
City Council lawmakers echoed McCall’s outrage fury over the lack of access to fire retardants in the subways, which boasts an estimated 1.4 million daily ridership, according to the MTA.
Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), whose district covers the station where the murder occurred, slammed the “gruesome incident” as a “tragic culmination of multiple broken and failed systems we are experiencing as a city, state, and nation: immigration, housing and homelessness, mental health, and crime and safety on our subways.
“We must do everything we can to ensure this never happens again and we must ensure the perpetrator of this horrific crime never enjoys another breath of fresh air.”
Joann Ariola (R-Queens), chair of the NYC Council’s Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, expressed shock that extinguishers weren’t readily available on the platforms.
“At the very least, there should be secure extinguishers that first responders and MTA personnel can access in the event of an emergency at every platform. This seems like common sense, especially given the possibility of track fires and other issues that might require a fast response,” she said.
David Carr (R-Staten Island) echoed Ariola’s sentiments, adding that the flame retardants “should be in a known location at every station in the event they are needed by MTA employees or first responders and it’s ridiculous that they aren’t. It’s a basic safety protection for staff and the public.”
Fellow Staten Island Republican Joe Borelli blamed the incident on the nation’s ongoing migrant crisis, the brunt of which has fallen on the Big Apple.
”It’s unclear why train platforms need not be equipped with fire extinguishers like other public buildings, but it’s something the Council should look at. Joe Biden took 94 executive actions on the border on day one, and this poor lady paid the bill. Trump and Homan can’t come to our aide soon enough,” he said.
City Hall did not immediately return The Post’s request for comment.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, has been charged with the grisly murder, but a motive for the crime is not yet clear. He’s due back in court Friday.
The man — whose pals claimed was a heavy drinker and a K2 abuser — allegedly committed the disturbing act just five days after a damning report by the MTA Inspector General exposed the dangers of the crumbling subways.
During a sample-sized audit, investigators found that seven extinguishers stashed away in emergency storage in the subway tunnels had not received their required monthly inspections. Some went unchecked for up to three months.
Investigators also found three emergency phones had no dial tone and one alarm box had a broken cover among a plethora of other safety concerns.
Steckel said the MTA was working to remedy the shortcomings, but did not elaborate on any specific plans.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/26/us-news/public-cant-access-fire-extinguishers-in-nyc-subways/
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