Fire officials say several recent fires have highlighted the danger of leaving doors open during an evacuation.
Earlier this month, a 1-year-old child died and several others were injured after fire spread through the hall and stairway of a building in Inwood.
Last month, fire officials say open doors played a role in deadly fires on East 187th Street in the Bronx and Dyckman Street in Manhattan.
Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore joined NY1 anchor Shannan Ferry on “News All Day” to discuss the dangers of leaving doors open during a fire.
“Anytime you have a pathway for the fire and smoke to travel, it just moves faster and gets more severe,” Bonsignore said. “We want to create obstacles and blocks along the way.”
City law requires apartment doors in many multifamily buildings to self-close. Officials say if residents’ doors don’t, then to report the issue to 311.
Tap the video player above to watch the interview.