3 Alarm Fire on 7th Street brings up important questions about fire codes

Lianne Chapin, ‘22

February 2020

On Monday, February 10th, at around 3:30 pm, a fire broke out on the corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street in Manhattan. Alarms continued until about 5:00, calling in three firehouses from Manhattan, five ambulances, and a wide variety of fire department vehicles. The fire, which occurred just across the street from the site of an infamous gas explosion in 2015, continued to smoke until about 7:30, and construction teams worked through the night to board up the building. According to the FDNY, no residents were killed, and any injuries sustained were described as “non life-threatening,” but the fire’s mysterious nature reflects a current threat to most older east village buildings.

The gas explosion that occurred across the street in 2015 killed two people and injured 12, leaving an empty lot on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and East Seventh Street. As the fire on the southeast corner was being put out, firefighters set up tents underneath the scaffolding from the construction site of the gas explosion, reminding spectators of the frequency of building fires in the area. Unfortunately, most East Village buildings are not up to code, and violations aren't reported in fear of destruction or gentrification, so most dangerous anomalies go unreported. As a result, fires, gas leaks, and collapses are far too common, especially in residential buildings. Although the city government has “cracked down” on fire violations, many including this one, remain.