ALBANY, N.Y. — Senate Democrats plan to pass a package of bills this week aimed at addressing issues raised by the deadly January fire that ripped through a Bronx apartment building and left 17 people dead.
The slate of 10 bills includes measures that would increase penalties for violations of building and fire code standards and require space heaters sold in New York to have thermostats and automatic shut-offs.
“My heart breaks for all of our neighbors we have lost to sweeping fires,” said Sen. Cordell Cleare, D-Harlem. “Use of space heaters to fight the winter chill is common, but today we take the necessary steps to ensure that the risks associated with these devices become incredibly uncommon.”
