By Julian Roberts-Grmela, Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — A brazen 27-year-old woman who left her car parked next to a fire hydrant as a fatal fire tore through a Bronx Buddhist temple — then defiantly complained about parking in the area to reporters — has been slapped with a $4,000 fine, the Daily News has learned.
The FDNY issued the criminal court summons to Quinaysa Arnold following the Feb. 12 blaze on Anthony Ave. near E. Burnside Ave. that killed a monk and a visitor to the USA Buddhayaram Temple.
The FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention issued the misdemeanor summons, which is punishable by $5,000 or six-month jail term, officials said.
It’s the first time a criminal court summons has been issued to someone caught parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Traditionally, those found playing with fire in that way are hit with a $115 parking violation.
Arnold’s car cost firefighters precious minutes in getting water on the fire as they fought the 6 a.m. blaze, FDNY Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said.
Because her red car was sitting right next to the fire hydrant, an engine couldn’t get close to the water source and firefighters had to take time to snake their hose around the vehicle.
“I’m a life-long New Yorker,” Commissioner Tucker told The News Friday. “Parking at a fire hydrant is unacceptable and in most instances people are doing it in their own neighborhood. They’re not only endangering the lives of everyone around them, they’re endangering their own lives.”
The temple fire was the second blaze in a week where a car was parked next to the closest fire hydrant to the blaze.
When he arrived at the scene FDNY Chief Fire Protection Inspector Joseph Rogers realized that firefighters were struggling to bring water to the fire and saw Arnold’s car blocking the hydrant.
“It had clearly been parked there overnight. It was covered with snow,” Rogers recalled. “I realized there were a couple of [violations under our fire codes] that could lead to a bigger fine and send a bigger message.”
The obstruction summons is usually issued to commercial businesses who block fire hydrants with dumpsters, fencing and vendor booths, but the legal team said it could be applied to everyday residents as well, Rogers said.
Firefighters had to physically serve Arnold with the criminal court summons and she had to respond to the allegations in court within 10 days.
During a hearing in Bronx Criminal Court, a judge reviewing the case found Arnold guilty and hit her with the $4,000 fine.
Attempts to reach Arnold at her mother’s home a few blocks from the temple were not successful Friday. Her mother wouldn’t comment on the fine, claiming she wasn’t feeling well.
On the afternoon of the fire, Arnold showed up with her 6-year-old child at her side. She said the city had booted her tire the day before the blaze but she couldn’t deal with getting the boot removed because she had to go to work.
“When I came this morning, the house was in flames,” she said. “I have the code for the boot. I wasn’t gonna stand here while the house was in flames. And I have a baby that was in the stroller as well.”
She said she felt no responsibility for making it more difficult for firefighters to fight the blaze.
“I didn’t start the fire and they put the hose over the car so they did what they had to do,” she said. “It’s not my fault but I can take responsibility for parking at a hydrant. I’m not supposed to do that but what else am I supposed to do? Parking is really tough in this neighborhood.”
On Friday, another car was parked in front of the hydrant outside the Buddhist temple — as well as every hydrant on the block. A driver was inside one of the illegally parked cars and drove away after a few minutes.
“They always do over there. If there’s a hydrant over there, they’d be parking,” neighbor Daniel Viruet said. “They be parking wherever there’s a hydrant.”
Drivers don’t respect the importance of not blocking fire hydrants, Viruet, 63, explained.
“If they did, none of this would have happened,” he said. “It would have been a little quicker response. Maybe (the FDNY ) would have saved those people before that fire spread. It’s sad. I mean, really sad.”
FDNY officials said these criminal court summonses will only be issued under extreme circumstances, but hope it will deter people from parking in front of hydrants in the future.
“At the FDNY we’re always thinking about ways to keep the public safe,” Tucker said. “We intend to use this and all tools like this to make sure that we are able to do our jobs efficiently and effectively.
“I don’t want to issue these summonses, I want compliance,” Tucker added. “My job as fire commissioner is not to worry about the conveniences of parking in this city, it is to keep those who live in this city safe.”
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