A New York City lawmaker is proposing a new fire-safety requirements for high-rise apartment houses after a playwright trying died trying to flee a blaze in his building.

City Councilman Corey Johnson is unveiling the proposal Monday. He tells The Wall Street Journal the measure would require buildings taller than six stories to have emergency public-address systems. That’s so first responders and building managers can communicate better with residents.

The Fire Department has no immediate response.

Writer Daniel McClung was overcome by smoke in a stairwell after fleeing his 38th-floor Manhattan apartment Jan. 5, when flames swept through a unit 18 floors below.

Fire officials have said residents would have been safe staying in their apartments because of the building’s fireproof design. But some may not have known that.

(AP)