Condemn Conditions That Killed Firemen;

UFA Head Lashes Out
Condemn Conditions That Killed Firemen

By ARI PAUL

Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy had one word to describe the deaths of two Firefighters Aug. 18 at 130 Liberty St. in Manhattan: "Inexcusable."

ROBERT BEDDIA Firefighters Joseph Graffagnino, 33, of Ladder Company 5, and Robert Beddia, 53, of Engine Company 24, died while battling a blaze at the former Deutsche Bank building by the World Trade Center site, which had been heavily damaged on 9/11. Workers had been deconstructing the building floor-by-floor as well as removing toxins such as asbestos.

'A Devastating Loss'

"It is devastating to lose two Firefighters, especially in a building that is essentially a vertical Love Canal and a toxic pile of rubbish," Mr. Cassidy said in a statement, referring to the once-contaminated area in upstate New York.

The two Firefighters reportedly died after running out of air. Reports said that the standpipe in the building was not operational, meaning that firefighters did not have an adequate source of water to get the fire on the 14th floor under control.

JOSEPH GRAFFAGNINO Firefighter Graffagnino had been with the Fire Department since 1999. Firefighter Beddia was appointed in 1983. They are the second and third Firefighters to die in the line of duty this year. Firefighter Daniel Pujdak of Ladder Company 146 died after falling four stories during a fire in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

The department has not yet released funeral details. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Department of Environmental Protection began testing the air quality after the firefighters subdued the fire. It reported Aug. 20 that 57 samples from 22 locations around 130 Liberty St. tested negative for asbestos.

Residents' Concerns

For the last year, residents have voiced concerns about the toxicity of the building as well as the ability of Bovis Lend Lease - the contractor responsible for deconstructing the building - to safely take down the building and not contaminate the air in the area.

Joel Shufro, the executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, said that the one of the subcontractors violated U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and that the government had not set up a proper emergency plan for residents.

STEVE CASSIDY: 'A toxic pile of rubbish.' "This event was the realization of their fears," Mr. Shufro said.

The New York Times reported that the subcontractor, the John Galt Corporation, has been cited for 20 serious violations and fined $67,500 by OSHA.

'Want a Plan in Place'

Community Board 1 in lower Manhattan is expected to the hold an emergency meeting about the incident this week.

Tom Goodkind, who serves on the Board's WTC Redevelopment Committee, said he hoped to question the leaders of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and other agencies about the incident.

"They all owe us answers," he said. "We want a plan in place if it happens again, and it will happen again."