Mayor: Smoking Caused WTC Tower Fire

Aug 27, 04:25 PM

Current Headlines: By Joseph Mallia, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Aug. 27--A preliminary investigation into a deadly fire at a ground zero skyscraper found that the cause was careless smoking by construction workers, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday.

Bloomberg also said that pieces of a broken standpipe in the tower were sent to the FBI as part of the investigation. The standpipe, which hadn't been inspected by fire officials in over a year, is used to send water from fire hoses up into the building.

Bloomberg spoke after the Fire Department reassigned three fire officials and ordered more inspections and fire planning at buildings throughout the city.

The mayor said the fire at the former Deutsche Bank tower was likely caused by "careless smoking by workers" on the 17th floor of the building, where the fire broke out.

City officials had said earlier that workers routinely took smoke breaks just outside the area where the fire started on Aug. 18.

Bloomberg said the department also failed to properly inspect the building, which he said was "not excusable."

"Based on what we currently know, it appears that the chiefs in command at the scene acted appropriately considering what they knew at the time. But its what they didn't know that contributed to the enormous difficulties that they encountered..."

Bloomberg sited the broken standpipe, the ventilation system, the blocked stairwells and the flammable debris as factors that made the fire difficult to fight.

"Why didn't the FDNY know about all of these issues? Why were they going in blind for all intents and purposes?" he said.

But he defended the decision to fight the fire. "You simply can't let buildings burn out of control and shower dangerous debris on neighborhoods."

Bloomberg noted that the city is obliged to reduce risks to firefighters wherever possible, adding, "As a city I think it's safe to say that we failed to do that."

"I'm not interested in fingerpointing," he said. "I simply want to fix what is broken and that's why we've spent a lot of time over the last 10 days trying to account for those failures."

Earlier, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta announced the demotions. The moves came after the Aug. 18 deaths of firefighters Joseph Graffagnino, 33, of Brooklyn, and Robert Beddia, 53, of Staten Island. They died of smoke inhalation while fighting a blaze at the half-demolished building, which lacked functioning standpipes.

Deputy Chief Richard Fuerch, the Division 1 commander; Battalion Chief John McDonald, the Battalion 1 commander; and Engine Company 10 Capt. Peter Bosco were relieved of their commands and detailed to FDNY headquarters.

Also, Scoppetta ordered deputy chiefs in the department's nine divisions to have fire units under their command inspect all buildings under construction or demolition.

The heightened inspections are intended to ensure adherence to all rules and regulations regarding fire protection and public safety, Scoppetta said.

All divisions were also ordered to review all existing pre-fire plans, and to carry out a survey of all structures that might require the creation of pre-fire plans.

In addition, all borough commanders were ordered to oversee and coordinate all field fire inspection activities in their respective boroughs.

The FDNY chief of operations will conduct a review of the department's field inspection program to ensure accountability at all levels, authorities said. The chief of operations will also make recommendations to strengthen and improve the quality and frequency of inspections by field units.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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