Plan to close door on fires

AFTER A SPATE of deadly fires, the City Council passed legislation Wednesday to require apartment doors that close automatically and child safety knobs for stoves.

A dozen people were killed in a Bronx fire in December, after a 3-year-old playing with a stove started a fire and his family left the door to their apartment open as they fled, allowing flames to spread through the building.

Under the bills passed by the Council, which the mayor is expected to sign, all apartments will have to have self-closing doors by 2021.

“This is a device that costs $24,” said Councilman Joe Borelli (RStaten Island), the sponsor. “And it’s something that would prevent fire and smoke from exiting one unit and going into others.”

Another bill will require landlord to provide stove knob covers, which prevent kids from lighting the stove, for all apartments with children under 6 years old.

Landlords will also be required to post notices in the building stressing the importance of closing doors in the event of a fire.