Workers Again Cut Fire Protection System at Deutsche Building

New York, NY —

Workers mistakenly cut a standpipe at the former Deutsche Bank building at the World Trade Center site yesterday morning, in an eerie echo of the circumstances that led to a fatal fire there two years ago.

This time, Fire Department spokesman Jim Long says nearby units were notified and work stopped immediately. They were tipped off by an alarm that sensed the change in air pressure in the standpipe.

Long says workers didn't recognize that the standpipe was part of the fire protection system... because it was horizontal instead of vertical. They were trying to remove a five- to ten-foot section as part of the abatement of asbestos and other pollutants in the building.

The accident happened at 8:30 yesterday morning on the second floor. All of the workers were evacuated from the site. Work is suspended until repairs are completed.

The Deutsche Bank building was damaged in the September 11th attacks and is being taken down. A fire at the site in August 2007 killed two firefighters, in part because workers had removed a section of the standpipe in the basement, preventing water from getting to the upper floors. Those contractors were later replaced with a new company.

The Buildings Department and Fire Department are continuing to investigate. Officials would not say what action, if any, will be taken against the workers or their employers.