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Building Where Firefighter Died Has Violations

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Jun 24, 2007 7:40 am US/Eastern

Building Where Firefighter Died Has Violations

By Dave Carlin, CBS 2 News
YONKERS (CBS) ― The New York City Department of Buildings has uncovered several occupancy permit problems and construction plan violations in the Brooklyn building where a firefighter fell to his death. The owner of the building has been slapped with several violations, including one for not having enough exits on the fourth floor where the fire broke out.

Ladder 146 in Williamsburg received more flowers on Saturday for Daniel Pujdak, and more questions arose about the four-story building where the 23-year-old firefighter lost his footing, and his life going from ladder to rooftop.

Fire investigators were in and out of the former factory uncovering violations and meeting with tenants.

"The plugs are bad, and I think [the wall] is warped," said Aaron Cattani. "I might be able to salvage it."

Cattani gave CBS 2 a tour of his smoke and water damaged apartment. Thursday's blaze broke out in the loft one floor above Cattani's apartment. His mattress is ruined, his computer fried and his clothes smoky, but he counts his blessings.

"What I'll have to deal with is nothing," said Cattani. "Someone trying to save our building has passed away."

The Buildings Department uncovered occupancy permit problems, construction plan violations, and no second means of exit for all but one of the fourth floor units.

"I hope whatever is wrong with the building can be fixed," said Bojo Lawrence.

Tenants on floors one through three can stay but worry they could be sent packing later. Some are angry with the neighbor they have not seen since Thursday, the one accused of leaving the burning cigarette on the windowsill.

"[That tenant] put a whole building's life on end just for a little mishap that could have been avoided," said Cattani.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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