From: Joe@smokefree.org
Date: Tue, 12/09/03
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It's now or never for New York's fire-safe cigarette law. To send a letter of
support, go to http://www.smokefree.net/fire
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Baby Severely Burned in Cigarette-Caused Fire
Department of State Fiddles While New Yorkers Burn
Parts excerpted from News 10, 12/5/03
A four-month-old is fighting for his life after being severely burned in a
multi-family dwelling this morning on Syracuse's west side. Fire investigators
say the cause of the fire was careless smoking.
New York passed fire-safe cigarette legislation over two years ago, but the
Department of State has yet to issue standards required to enforce the law.
"There have been several tragic fires this year which could have been prevented
had the Department of State issued fire-safe cigarette standards." says Joe
Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc. "I hope the
Secretary of State realizes the pain and suffering being caused by delaying this
law which is in the best interest of everybody except the tobacco cartel."
Cigarette-caused fires are the nation's #1 cause of fire death, killing more
than 1,000 civilians each year, critically injuring more than 3,000, and costing
more than $400 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire
Protection Association.
The fire at 206 Barrett Street began in the bedroom of an upstairs apartment and
severely damaged the five-unit house. The other apartments in the building have
both water and smoke damage.
When fire fighters arrived, they found Joseph Corliss, Sr. holding his
four-month-old son in his hands. "The baby had severe burns and was immediately
transferred to an ambulance," said Deputy Chief of the Syracuse Fire Department
Ed Kurtz.
Moments earlier, Corliss had extinguished the flames that had engulfed his son's
body as he slept. Five people were in the apartment at the time of the fire.
Four were taken to the hospital.
Investigators say the fire started in a bedroom upstairs when a smoldering
cigarette caught the bedding on fire and spread up a nearby wall.
Two children were sleeping in the room when the fire started. Baby Jessie
Corliss suffered critical burns on his arms and upper body. Joseph Corliss, Sr.
has minor burns to his hands and Eugene Corliss suffered from smoke inhalation.
Jessie's mother, Julie Dreswick, was not home at the time of the fire.
Two-year-old Joseph Corliss, Jr. was released from the hospital after being
treated for smoke inhalation.
Neighbors say Niagara Mohawk has turned off power to the building, so neighbors
will likely be homeless tonight.
If the Department of State does not issue fire-safe standards by year-end, it
will have to re-start the lengthy rule making process from the beginning.
To send a letter in support of fire-safe cigarette standards, go to
http://www.smokefree.net/fire
Joseph W. Cherner
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
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