Public Employee Press

DC 37's first responders aid victims
East Village gas explosion

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

I'm proud of the quick response and life-saving treatment of our brave men and women of the FDNY EMS workforce. Once again as they have always done, they answer the call for help for all New Yorkers. — Vincent Variale, President Local 3621

When a deadly gas explosion rocked the East Village on March 26 shooting smoke and flames 35 feet into the air and raining down glass and bricks onto pedestrians, dozens of emergency workers in 10 DC 37 locals were first responders along side Firefighters and Police.

The blast set off a seven-alarm blaze that killed two and injured 22. Over 250 Firefighters responded as the raging fire spread from 121 Second Ave., engulfing 119, 123 and 125, blowing out the windows of the century-old buildings.

Emergency Operators took 97 calls reporting an explosion at 3:17 p.m., said Local 1549 First Vice President Alma Roper. "Once again our 911 Operators did an outstanding job. The information was entered correctly and timely so first responders could get to the exact location as quickly as possible," she said.

Fire Dept. Emergency Medical Techs in Local 2507 and EMS Captains and Lieutenants in Local 3621 raced to the scene to search for and rescue trapped residents, some of whom were forced to jump from fire escapes to safety. The EMTs treated dazed and bloodied victims and rushed four critically injured persons to area hospitals.

Within 45 minutes, witnesses said, there was a loud rumble, and 123 Second Ave.-the building next to where the fire had started-collapsed in a charred heap of glass shards and brick. Two other buildings later collapsed. The explosion was reportedly caused by an illegal tap on a gas line at 121 Second Ave.

Always ready

NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents 3 Ilya Tartakovsky and Adalys Padilla in Local 983 towed 10 vehicles to clear traffic from East 7th to East 13th streets and make way for emergency FDNY and Police trucks.

In the all-out search for the missing, Local 768 Medicolegal Investigators helped Firefighters and Police sift through tons of wreckage. Four days later emergency responders recovered two bodies that Local 420 Mortuary Techs transported to the city morgue.

In the days and weeks that followed, public employees from the Human Resources Administration, the Housing Preservation Dept., the Office of Emergency Management, the Dept. of Homeless Services in Locals 371, 375 and 1549 provided emergency services, temporary housing, counseling
and other support services to over 55 displaced East Village residents.

Dept. of Buildings workers inspected structures for safety and HPD workers protected New Yorkers by sealing off access to damaged buildings. Dept. of Environmental Protection workers tested air samples for asbestos, which were negative.

Investigators from the city and Con Edison search for clues and checked out complaints and violations against the building. The short-staffed DOB again came under much scrutiny. In early March the de Blasio administration dedicated $174 million to hire additional Building Inspectors and Engineers by 2017.

The American Red Cross, the ASPCA, the Lower East Side Long Term Recovery Group and local churches housed, fed, clothed and offered support to victims, reunited them with lost pets and continue to help restore the community and local businesses.

Local 3621 President Vincent Variale expressed sorrow over the tragedy and loss of life and added, "I'm proud of the quick response and life-saving treatment our brave men and women of the FDNY EMS workforce provided. Once again as they have always done, they answer the call for help for all New Yorkers."