The reports say that the stand-pipe system, which maintained by the subcontractor in charge of demolition, is the only mechanism in place to get water to the Deutsche Bank building in an emergency, wasn't working on Saturday. Firefighters could not get water up past the fifth floor. Although the investigation continues, officials currently believe that a broken valve may be the cause of the malfunction. The reports also state that as a result of the stand pipe malfunction, firefighters used extra time to haul the hoses up the side of the building.
According to the reports, more than two hours after the seven-alarm fire was reported Saturday afternoon, officers at the scene immediately said the building was in danger of collapsing; however at a press conference Saturday night, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the building was "structurally sound" and not in danger of falling. There were no evacuations of adjacent buildings, the mayor also said.
Bloomberg noted that preliminary air-quality tests showed an increase in particulate matter but no hazardous contaminants; though he added that more complete tests were being conducted. "Air quality and the environmental impact, as you might imagine, are a top concern to us and we are monitoring the situation very closely," he said at the press conference.
According to published reports, the mayor was joined at the news conference by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta; Louis J. Garcia, the chief fire marshal; Frank P. Cruthers, the first deputy fire commissioner; Dr. David J. Prezant, chief medical officer at the Fire Department; Dr. Lee Winter, chief of anesthesiology at the hospital; Stephen J. Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association; and John McDonnell of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. The fire burned on multiple floors at the building.
Construction crews had already dismantled 14 of the building's 40 stories and the construction created difficulty for the firefighters, according to reports. According to reports, the two firefighters became trapped in the building.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
