Exclusive | Public cant access fire extinguishers in subway system and MTA has no plans to change that after horrific murder of woman on F train
The tragic fiery murder of a sleeping straphanger in Brooklyn this week illuminated a critical flaw in the city subway system — fire extinguishers are not accessible to the public.Fire extinguishers are readily available only to MTA workers in track tunnels and booths, the transit agency confirmed Thursday, drawing outrage from local leaders who say the woman’s death could have been prevented.“The MTA [has] a billion-dollar operating budget.
They invest millions of dollars in cameras at stations but have no money for accessible fire extinguishers?” raged Rev.Kevin McCall, who organized a vigil for the yet-to-be-identified victim Thursday.Questions have mounted over why no one bothered to help the woman as she burned in an F train at the Coney Island station on Sunday after she was set on fire by an illegal Guatemalan immigrant in the sickening attack.
Disturbing video showed bystanders, including an NYPD cop, walking right past the blazing woman.An MTA worker ultimately snuffed out the flames, but it was too late to save her — the victim was burned beyond recognition and still has not been identified.In the wake of the tragedy, the MTA said it does not have plans to install fire extinguishers on board trains or platforms.“Fire extinguishers are available to MTA personnel & emergency services; MTA does not utilize fire blankets,” Dave Steckel said in an email.Instead, train cars are outfitted with signs encouraging straphangers to alert MTA crew of any emergency, including in case of fire.Trains are not equipped with fire extinguishers.McCall, the founder of the Crisis Action Center, also condemned the cop who was caught on camera walking past the woman as she was engulfed in flames.When asked what he expected the officer to do without accessible extinguishers on hand, McCall said he should have found another way to put out the fire.“The officer could have taken off his jacket and wrapped it around the victim in an attempt to help, he could hav...