NY Times

Emergency Service Response Times Delayed By New Requirements - City Hall, NYC Landmarks 'Jeopardized'

If fire breaks out at City Hall on any given morning, people inside the building might be out of luck.

"Anybody in City Hall, including the Mayor and the city council would be in jeopardy," said Uniformed Fire Officers Association President John McDonnell.

McDonnell told CBS 2 that under new fire department guidelines instated after the Deutsche Bank fire, five of the eight ladders and engine companies located below Canal Street would all be doing building inspections at the same time and could be delayed reaching City Hall, the Court Houses, 26 Federal Plaza and even the Stock Exchange. In emergencies, seconds count, said McDonnell.

"There's always a delay and constantly over the department radios you can hear it, 99 engine will be saying we're responding but we're going to be delayed due to building inspection," said McDonnell.

Documents were revealed to CBS 2 representing just a fraction of the delays that have been reported in the last three weeks.

Union officials say the delays began occurring citywide after the fire department required its units to increase building inspections from six hours to nine hours a week.

For example, Engine 10, located next door to the Deutsche Bank building missed two emergency calls Wednesday. Why?

"They were on building inspection. In this particular case, they were on the 22nd floor of a building under construction," said McDonnell.

The Union argues there should be a dedicated team of building inspectors so fire safety isn't compromised. But the fire department says it's too expensive. It would cost an estimated $26 million.

The FDNY insists its new building inspection plan was well thought out and carefully planned. A spokesman said the new program will enhance firefighter safety and protect the public.