Wash Heights Pol Pushes New Bill For Added Fire Extinguishers

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — After a month that saw an uptick of fires in Upper Manhattan, including a blaze that killed two people in Washington Heights, a local politician is looking to address the problem.

City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez wants to pass a law that would require all residential apartment buildings in New York City to install portable fire extinguishers in a common area on every floor that has at least one occupied unit.

The law would amend Fire Code Section 906.1, and would become law 120 days after it is passed.

Rodriguez is joined on the bill by Brooklyn City Council Member Justin Lee Brannan.

The push to pass the additional fire safety law comes less then 10 days after a deadly fire broke out in a residential building at 260 Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights.

The blaze killed two women.

Tenants of the Audubon building told Rodriguez's office that there are no fire extinguishers in the hallways, only a firehose in the staircase.

"My sincere condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the two residents who lost their lives during last night's fire," Rodriguez tweeted on Nov. 23.

The piece of legislation will have to pass through the Committee on Housing and Buildings to become law.