Keeping Motorists Safe at the Gas Pump +VIDEO

PR effort aimed at stopping New York from eliminating critical fire safety protection.

​NEW YORK January 19, 2016; The leading voice to maintain fire suppression systems at all New York State gasoline fueling stations announced yesterday that they are launching an educational campaign to ensure that the critical fire safety measure remains in place despite the state’s intention to drop it.

The New York State Association of Fire Equipment Companies (NYSAFECo) said the online campaign would seek to educate all New Yorkers about a recent recommendation to eliminate the requirement of fire suppression systems above pumps at all gas stations.

Fillipo Conte, president of NYSAFECo, said the Codes Council—a state entity housed within the New York Department of State—opted in August 2015 to do away with the regulation as part of an overhaul of the state’s new fire code. In place since 1984, the regulation states that every gas station in New York be equipped with a fire suppression system in the event that pumps catch fire.

“With little or no real debate, this body took an action that places each and every motorist in a compromised public safety position when fueling their vehicles, especially since we have recently seen an increase in fires at the pump,” Conte said.

He noted that the most recent blaze occurred on January 1 at a Wyandanch filling station on Long Island. Local first responders and the owner of the station credited the fire suppression system with mitigating what would have been a fully involved fire, by knocking the flames down until the fire service arrived.

“Having a fire suppression system deployed at a fueling station is akin to having a fireman on site 24/7,” Conte said. “Once a fire is detected, the systems are deployed to control the blaze, giving the driver and their occupants an opportunity to evacuate the site. And with the advent of video cameras, more and more of these fire incidents are being recorded, showcasing the effectiveness of these systems.”

Conte noted that the campaign would also target state lawmakers. “Many lawmakers are unaware that the Codes Council has unilaterally decided to remove this important measure without their consent,” he said. “Proposing to eliminate this provision makes no more sense than taking seat belts and airbags out of our vehicles. We wouldn’t dream of doing that, yet the state thinks it’s ok to have New Yorkers fuel their vehicles without this important public safety measure in place.”