Scared neighbors in
Brooklyn snapped up
free smoke detectors
Sunday from the Fire
Department, which
handed out 200
alarms in just over
an hour.
Residents said they
were frightened, and
with reason: The
Bensonhurst fire is
shaping up to be a
prime example of why
smoke detectors are
necessary. Miguel
Chan, who lost his
wife in the fire,
said there were
smoke detectors in
the family's
apartment, but no
working batteries.
"You must change
your battery every
six months," said
Lt. John Fiumano as
he gave out
pamphlets in the
area. "If you don't,
look what you got:
You're throwing
babies out the
window."
Angelica Chen was
persuaded to get a
new smoke detector.
"I'm a really deep
sleeper," said Chen,
25, who works at a
Starbucks on Wall
St. "I need
something loud to
wake me up."
Roughly half of all
fatal fires in the
city involved a
building that did
not have functioning
smoke detectors,
says the Fire
Department.
They are also
required by law,
according to thecity
Housing Preservation
and Development
Department.
