Local Fire Surfaces Concerns

Politics do not necessarily include congress and presidential issues. It includes civil rights and things that go on in the city that need to be fixed.

A local apartment building caught on fire Monday, February 15^th, 2010 claiming one life. This fire brought about many issues, fears, and concerns from local residents and family of those residents within the building. Two political issues have come about from this tragic event. Now people are demanding answers and for the situations to be changed.

The cause of the fire was due to an older man smoking a cigarette while he was using his oxygen tank. That craving just could not be defeated and it cost him his life. Local dwellers of this residential high rise are wondering if it could happen again.

Many people do not take the "no smoking" signs with oxygen tanks seriously. Often the warning is dismissed with a simple "It would not happen to me" response. The elder who lost his life thinking this same thing has now opened eyes to many people and caused great concern.

How many lives have to be claimed before the government steps in and creates a law for the oxygen tank users? There should be absolutely no smoking allowed for one who is using an oxygen tank. There needs to be some sort of control put upon those that think it is safe.

The explosion took the man's life as well as affected many of those within the apartment building. Residents were not allowed to enter the building for up to seven hours after, some had to go without their medicines, and others were hungry and uncomfortable. Even some residents had to miss work due to the event that had taken place.

This man not only took his own life but he could have taken many more lives, residents on the floors below did not know what was going on because the fire alarms were not going off. Through the windows some could see the fire trucks pulling up and it led people to wondering. It should be a law that the buildings have better smoke detectors for the safety of the residents.

Another concern, for some that had neighbors still with in the building, are how are those disabled people going to be safe? There should be a requirement that the buildings provide a safety measure for those disabled, such as an emergency phone that if something happens there will be someone there to help. This network of people should be required to stay within the apartment building in order to provide emergency evacuation to those who cannot take care of themselves. The concern for the well being of those that are disabled and mentally unable to think for themselves has surfaced and there needs to be some action taking place. This is America, not survival of the fittest.