Assemblymember Brindisi and FASNY President Jim Burns Call Attention to Potential Safety Hazard for New York’s Motoring Public

September 16, 2013

ALBANY – Assemblymember Anthony Brindisi of Utica, who chairs the Assembly Volunteer Emergency Services sub-committee, says a potential change to state regulations regarding fire safety at New York gas stations threatens the safety of drivers.

Brindisi said the New York State Code Council – which is housed at the New York Department of State-- is currently updating the state’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, as well as the state’s Energy Conservation Construction Code. The 17-member body is considering rescinding a requirement that all gasoline filling stations statewide have a fire suppression system in place above their gas pumps.

“New York has long led the nation when it comes to enacting commonsense safety regulations for drivers, including those for gas stations,” Brindisi said. “This regulation has been on the books in New York for decades, and has protected many New Yorkers from serious harm. We need to ensure that this vital safety measure continues to be the law in New York.”

Brindisi held a press conference today in Albany where he was joined by Jim Burns, President of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY). FASNY is the leading volunteer fire service organization in New York State. They provide information, education and training for volunteer fire and emergency medical services across the state.

“Governor Cuomo rightly mandated that gas stations in strategic locations have back-up generators to allow residents to get access to fuel for their vehicles, generators and chain saws in the event of another power outage caused by a foul weather,” Burns said. “However, in so doing, the likelihood of a fire related incident either as a result of an issue with an on-site generator or a consumer pumping or transporting gas in a container will increase considerably. That makes it imperative that we continue to mandate fire suppression systems in New York State.”

Brindisi noted that Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the aftermath of super storm Sandy, took steps to ensure that New Yorkers could get access to gasoline in the event of a power outage by mandating that filling stations have back up power generation on site.

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