Following the recent fatal fire in Flatbush, the FJCC convened a meeting with the Fire Department Commissioner and Chiefs, and leadership of Flatbush Yeshivas, Shuls, and organizations to initiate fire prevention and safety in the community.

Over forty five leaders gathered last week at the Yad Yosef Torah Center on Ocean Parkway, led by Rabbi David Ozeri the Rabbi of the Azan family, who was singularly instrumental in raising funds and caring for the survivors. Rabbi Ozeri spoke about the Azan family, and stressed the importance of safety awareness.

The meeting was chaired by Josh Mehlman, Chairman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, FJCC, and attended by leaders of Flatbush Hatzoloh, Flatbush Shomrim, COJO of Flatbush, Sephardic Bikur Holim, Sephardic Community Center, Misaskim, Chai Lifeline, Ohel, Amudim, Chesed Shel Emes, and Vaad Refuah as well as many Yeshivas and Bais Yaakov schools.

Rafi Treitel and Moshe Wulliger of Flatbush Hatzoloh praised the long standing respect and positive interaction of Hatzoloh with the FDNY, and described their bravery saving lives. Many of the school principals and administrators discussed their ideas for implementing safety and prevention. The meeting was initiated at the request of Mayor de Blasio who visited the site of the Azan fire hours after the tragedy, and met with Councilman Chaim Deutsch, Josh Mehlman and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro asking that the community take concrete action to help prevent fires in the future. The Commissioner stated his commitment to providing all the necessary materials and manpower, in a culturally sensitive way, to facilitate fire prevention and safety instruction in community schools.

The leaders agreed to immediately begin working on implementing a prevention program in the schools and shuls. The FJCC will coordinate a multifaceted campaign with the FDNY to raise awareness in the broader community.

Commissioner Nigro commented on the “seriousness and professionalism of the attendees, their dedication to education is demonstrated by their taking out time in their busy work day to meet after this tragic event.”

The FJCC unites and represents the greater Flatbush Jewish community, New York’s largest, on communal, civic and political concerns.

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