Fire Announcement and Press Conference

New York Mayor Robert F. Wagner at the dedication of the new home of the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 4, 1959.

Mayor Wagner discusses the death of nine children in fire related accidents since the first of January, 1964. Wagner reminds parents of their responsibility when it comes to fire safety. Keep matches away from kids and have a neighbor watch your children if you leave the house.

Wagner asks people to stop smoking in bed and to check the wiring in their houses. There has been an increase in false alarms which has caused some problems with firefighting resources. Most of the false alarms occur when the taverns close. The city has a record of the most frequently pulled alarms and has asked the police to crack down on false alarm triggers.

Generally speaking, there has been a decrease in major alarm fires over the last several years.

There are questions from reporters after the subject of fire is extinguished. Reporters ask if Wagner has met with Senator Jack E. Bronston. Would you be willing to support Bronston as majority leader? Wagner hedges. Have you met Senator Kennedy? I did talk to Kennedy - his wife Ethel just gave birth to a baby boy. Kennedy didn't want to get involved with New York election politics.


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 150632
Municipal archives id: T875