Monday, February 09, 2009

PLEASED WITH EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIVENESS OF FIRE DEPT: 33 OAK STREET FIRE --ONLY ONE FAMILY SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE


Councilman Francis Sheehan and I stopped by at the scene of the fire at 33 Oak Street around 11:15 PM. By time we both arrived at the the fire - the fire was out. I spoke to one family at 90 Manhattan Ave (temporary shelter). They were waiting for permission to get back into their apartment. According to some of the firefighters who I spoke to only one apartment in the building was damaged significantly. This was good news. When I was first alerted to the fact that there was a fire - we thought more people would need to be evacuated.
I was very impressed with the procedures being used with this fire. And, evacuation procedures. First -- the Fairview, Hartsdale, Greenville and White Plains fire departments deserve our thanks for effectively responding to the fire. The police chief, John Kapica advised the Town Board of the fire. I also received a call from James Robinson, a Fairview Fire Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at the Theodore Young Community Center. We were also advised of evacuation procedures. Displaced residents would be sent to a holding area at 90 Manhattan Ave. If overnight shelter would have been needed - we would have opened up the Community Center for residents.
Although we hope that we will never need to use our town facilities as emergency shelter - the town is prepared for emergencies and will offer our facilities to the community if there is a need. Today's fire highlighted the fact that the town is prepared for an emergency.
PAUL FEINER

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is 33 Oak Street an apartment building? Where is Oak Street; somewhere near the community center I assume?

Anonymous said...

off of manhattan avenue by the verizon headquarters

Anonymous said...

curious- only fairview got $100,000 of the westhab money

paul - your tendering to fairview is sowing racial dissension.

close the tdycc down

Anonymous said...

I am such a blogaholic that I can't resist this pathetic attempt to praise the world -- as though this was an emergency not a press release. There have been fires in Greenburgh before and fires in multi-family dwellings as well.

"By time we both arrived at the the fire - the fire was out."

and

"I was very impressed with the procedures being used with this fire."

Mr. Feiner was not present to judge.

Mr. Feiner was so concerned by the gravity of this fire, that before he rushed to the scene, he had taken the time to post an elist directive and a post on his blog --witness the earlier topic. It is good to know that in emergencies, residents should direct their attention to this blog -- ignore the blinding flash, the sirens, but stay tuned to the blog.

Now after the emergency that was not a crisis but a fire (as tragic as that may be, but by no means unique), Mr. Feiner raises questions in this reader's mind.

Was Police Chief Kapica at the scene? Probably not. But thanks for the call. Should Mr. Robinson have called twice? Once as Fairview Fire Commissioner and once as Deputy Commissioner at the Theodore Young Community Center.

What might have been of a practical manner if there ever had been ANY reason to assume an emergency, would be a plan in place to open up the NEAR-BY Greenburgh Health Center to care for burn victims. That was apparently not in the plan or there was no need despite the Supervisor's crying "wolf".

And how about opening up NEAR-BY Town Hall and the new Library. I'm no so impressed by the "arrangements" which amount to little more than throwing the lights on. But readers recognize the real need to involve the TDYCC in every matter. Can Xposure be far behind? As a "movement" will it be teaching 5th graders triage in the event of a medical emergency?

Shameless how Feiner needs to profit off misfortune in an election year. Of course, the obvious question is where was Ms. Brown at 11:15PM and living just a few blocks away? Doesn't she read her emails or did Feiner forget to call the Town Board members who are not up for re-election? Mr. Sheehan (and family) probably get Fire calls directly which would explain his "involvement".

Again, if Feiner weren't trying to "make hay" from this fire, I would feel no need to put out his fire.

Just one more of his ploys that "relight my fire".

Anonymous said...

hal - perhaps mr sheehan and his family were getting treatment at the dobbs ferry community hospital?

Anonymous said...

I find it curious that despite the fact that Fairview, Hartsdale, & Greenville fire departments have numerous fires during the year only this alarm was blog worthy. Could it be its proximity to the Community Center????

Anonymous said...

dont you find it curious (or illegal) that only fairview fire dept got $100,000 from the valhalla money

Anonymous said...

If Fairview, Greenville and Hartsdale fire departments would merge taxes would be less.

Anonymous said...

Why didn’t the fire hydrants work? Why were people sitting in their living rooms unaware of what was going on until they happened to look out of the windows. Why didn’t smoke detectors work? This Building has a history of fires that have spread too many floors. Now that they are collecting $2500 dollars a month rents. One would think they would do better. Isn't the building is under renovations. What kind of contractors, are they using low cost cheap equipment. Sub standard materials .Someone needs to take a look. But since they don’t pay the town taxes who cares.
This si a shame

Anonymous said...

If you merged Fairview, Hartsdale and Greenville the only way to save money would be for the fire dept to cover the area where the Greenburgh police cover. It would be a bigger tax base. right now the town pays Elmsford, Tarrytown, Ardsley, Irvinton and Hastings FD's for fire protection in certain area's. 1 Town wide Fire Dept to cover the whole Town might save some money.

Anonymous said...

As Hartsdale and Greenville both responded shouldn't the Town give them each $100,000 for performing Townwide services?
That was the justification for presenting that amount to Fairview, wasn't it Mr Feiner?

Anonymous said...

Put Westhelp in either Hartsdale or Edgemont then you can give them $100,000. Westhelp is a burden on Fairview, and they do not pay taxes! Westhelp is not a burden on the Valhalla schools, so I don't agree with giving them money. The money should be put into the Library and lower the cost of running that huge mistake. At least that would be a town wide benefit.

Anonymous said...

Put Westhelp in either Hartsdale or Edgemont then you can give them $100,000. Westhelp is a burden on Fairview, and they do not pay taxes! Westhelp is not a burden on the Valhalla schools, so I don't agree with giving them money. The money should be put into the Library and lower the cost of running that huge mistake. At least that would be a town wide benefit.

Anonymous said...

What burden does Westhelp impose on Fairview? Please be as specific as possible because if it does actually impose a burden then Fairview has a legitimate concern. The only one who has ever cited Westhelp's "burden" on Fairview was the Supervisor and the facts do not seem to bear him out.

Anonymous said...

Ask the Fairview Fire Dept how many times a year they respond to Westhelp. I see the fire dept going there almost everyday.I'm sure the fire dept would be better to answer than Paul.
Paul do you know?