by CHUCK BENNETT
Firefighters will spend more of their time inspecting buildings and will have access to a master database of all high rises under construction or demolition, officials said yesterday.
The move comes nearly three months after firefighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia were killed fighting a blaze at the Deutsche Bank building, which was being torn down.
Fire companies will now spend nine hours a week, up from six, doing inspections.
The new database will track all construction and demolition of buildings taller than 75 feet and provide updates on when inspections are due.
Firefighters at the Aug. 18 blaze at Ground Zero found themselves with no water for their hoses because of a broken standpipe. They also faced a confusing maze of passageways and blocked stairwells.
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