Summonses Issued To 19 'Big Box' Stores In Town Of Brookhaven

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, NY - Over 20 summonses and 20 violations were recently issued at several "big box" stores — such as BJs, Walmart, Kohl's and more, across the Town of Brookhaven.

Last month, Brookhaven Town Fire Marshals visited 39 stores to check if they were in compliance with Town fire codes.

As a result of the inspections, the fire marshals issued 22 summonses for various infractions including blocked aisles and exits, and one for propane stores inside.

In addition, they also issued 21 violations that did not warrant a summons and were not egress related (meaning it did not have to do with the exits).

Each summons issued is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail.

"A blocked aisle or exit could mean the difference between life and death during a fire or other emergency," Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine said. "We will not tolerate any violation of our fire codes and I commend our Fire Marshals for the important work they do to keep people safe during the holidays and throughout the year."

According to town officials, the following stores were inspected:

• Dick's Sporting Goods on 499-64 Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, received one egress summons
• Best Buy on 499 Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, issued summons for fire extinguisher violations
• Best Buy on 261 Pond Path in Setauket, received one egress summons and one egress violation
• Home Depot on 399 William Floyd Parkway in Mastic, received fire extinguisher violations
• Home Depot on 255 Pond Path in South Setauket, received no violations
• Home Depot on 10 Gateway Boulevard in Patchogue, received egress summonses and a fire alarm violation
• Home Depot on 20 Farber Drive in Bellport, received no violations
• Home Depot on 401 Independence Plaza in Selden, received no violations
• Home Depot on 346 Middle Country Road in Coram, received no violations
• K-Mart on 2280 North Ocean Avenue in Farmingville, received no violations
• Kohl's on 346 Route 25 A, Suite 130 in Rocky Point, received egress summons
• Kohl's on 5000 Nesconset Highway in Setauket, received egress summons, a propane violation and opening protective violations
• Kohl's on 999 Montauk Highway in Shirley, received a storage violation
• Kohl's on 106 Ronkonkoma Avenue in Ronkonkoma, received no violations
• Lowe's on 2796 Route 112 in Medford, received egress summonses and egress violation
• Lowe's on 825 Montauk Highway in Patchogue, received egress summons
• Lowe's on 2150 Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook, received egress summonses, propane summons, storage violations
• Modell's on 1019 Montauk Highway in Shirley, received no violations
• Modell's on 51 Centereach Mall in Centereach, received no violations
• Modell's on 89 Route 25A in Rocky Point, received egress summons, egress violation
• Target on 255 Pond Path in South Setauket, received no violations
• Target on 2975 Horseblock Road in Medford, received no violations
• Target on 307 Independence Plaza in Selden, received egress summons
• Walmart on 161 Centereach Mall in Centereach, received no violations
• Walmart on 3990 Nesconset Highway in East Setauket, received fire extinguisher violation, storage violation
• Walmart on 750 Middle County Road in Middle Island, received no violations
• Big Lots on 231 Centereach Mall in Centereach, received egress summons
• OS Job Lot on 2150 Middle Country Road in Centereach, received no violations
• Michael's on 499-65 Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, received no violations
• Home Goods on 499-1 Sunrise Highway in Patchogue, received no violations
• A. C. Moore on 17 College Plaza in Selden, received egress summons, storage summons
• Tractor Supply on 3170 Route 112 in Medford, received no violations
• Michael's on 1019-2 Montauk Highway in Shirley, received no violations
• Michael's on 2799 Route 112 in Medford, received no violations
• Michael's on 346 Route 25A Suite 40 in Rocky Point, received no violations
• Dollar Tree on 85 Route 25A in Rocky Point, received no violations
• BJ's on 4000 Nesconset Highway in Setauket, received egress summonses, propane violation
• BJ's on 790 Sunrise Highway in Bellport, received egress summonses, egress violation, fire alarm violations
• Sam's Club on 2950 Horseblock Road in Medford, egress summons

According to town spokesperson Jack Krieger, any opening in a fire wall or fire barrier, must be fire rated and is known as an opening protective.

"So, a fire door that is installed in the wall between the stock room and the sales area of a store such as Kohl's is an opening protective, it protects the opening in the wall," he wrote in an email to Patch. "These doors or shutters (for windows / openings in walls) are rated and are either self-closing or have a method closing automatically in case of fire. In this case there was stock stored in the way of the fire doors closing, thus if there was a fire in the stock room it would be able to easily extend to the store area where the public is."

In addition, Krieger specified that a propane violation meant that a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or propane cannot be stored within a store or near any exits.

"This violation was cited because employees, making it more convenient for shoppers to pick up there propane tank moved a number of them to the cash wrap area of the store near the exit," he said. "If there was a leak and fire the exits would be blocked thus preventing egress."

"Our number one priority are the shoppers and employees who expect to be safe and able to exit the store in the event of an emergency," Brookhaven Town Chief Fire Marshal Christopher Mehrman said. "Ensuring aisle widths are maintained and exits are not blocked by merchandise are just some of the things we are looking at. The Town has a zero-tolerance approach to these violations."

If you suspect that any store or business is in violation of the Town’s fire codes, call 631-451-TOWN (8696).