FIRE INSPECTION
FYI – Just had an surprise fire inspection on my brownstone. I had just replaced the sprinklers though out the building. one fireman went up to the roof. While I went with the other to the basement. I have about 4 contractors upstairs working at this time. I had opened the roof trap door to…
FYI – Just had an surprise fire inspection on my brownstone.
I had just replaced the sprinklers though out the building.
one fireman went up to the roof. While I went with the other to the basement.
I have about 4 contractors upstairs working at this time. I had opened the roof trap door to let air in (they are painting).
As they are leaving the dude who went to the roof tells me my skylight is cracked.
me – weird? I was just up there.
Fireman – it didn’t leak water during the last rain storm.
me – no, but thanks for the heads up I’ll have it fixed.
they leave. Then my contractor tells me that he broke it! They all heard a crash and then saw him put his foot on it and crack the glass! Be aware this guy was Africian american with a tattoo around his collar bone.
Went up to check and the trap door was thrown over (upside down), which I never do, I just slide it.
MESSED UP RIGHT!
ALSO THIS IS FT. GREENE!
Yeah, BFAG, a firetruck would be a clue, except that OP doesn’t mention one. Firefighting apparel is NOT a clue; easily purchased online or at several outlets.
This does not sound right. call your local firehouse and ask if anyone from there came for an inspection and ask for a report (which you may have to get down at headquarters). sounds fishy…
Wow.
I don’t think the fire inspectors come in trucks. They used to come to my building every so often – just one guy, respectful, fine, even when writing a violation. Don’t know if I ever asked for ID, of if he just showed it.
In any event, I’d be wary of someone going somewhere in my building not escorted by me. Makes me wonder if it is indeed a scam – one to distract you, one to go upstairs and see what they can find, thwarted by the presence of your contractors. Of course, and I’m going to get shit for saying this, but it has been documented in the newspapers (I only know what I read), sometimes firemen steal – not that I’m saying they all do, or that I am intending to malign the entire department of folks who are braver than the rest of us could ever be.
I’d follow up on this with a complaint if I were you – with the fire department – they should have a record of who visited you, if they did. Or with the police, then, if it turns out there are scam artists posing as fire inspectors, so they can warn people, maybe even catch them. Maybe they showed you ID, and you know if they were indeed firemen.
Get a repair estimate. If it’s enough to sting and your contractor is willing to back up what he saw in writing, consider talking directly to the station chief to see if he can help set things right and avoid bureaucracy by bypassing the filing of a formal complaint w/ FDNY, the city etc. Otherwise just be proactive and seek reimbursement from the city. You’ll want to weigh your interest in avoiding “special” scrutiny during future “surprise” fire inspections against the cost of repair, but then again, it may be one of those situations where the principle of the matter outweighs any future (and somewhat unlikely) consequences.
“What made you think these guys were really FDNY? Did you ask for ID?”
The fire truck is usually a good indicator of legitimacy.
What made you think these guys were really FDNY? Did you ask for ID?