Violations & compliance · 11/04/2026
FDNY's Bonsignore urges working alarms and safe lithium-ion charging
In a PoliticsNY Q&A published 11/04/2026, FDNY Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore described her role and the department's safety work. She asked New Yorkers to maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to use only UL certified lithium-ion batteries. She also said batteries should be charged outdoors in a spot that does not block an exit.
AReported by amNYRead the original ↗
What happened
On 11/04/2026, amNY published a Q&A with FDNY Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. It ran in PoliticsNY's special edition "Inside Government: Public Safety & Emergency Management," which is sponsored by the New York City Police Benevolent Association.
Bonsignore described the commissioner as a civilian administrator who oversees strategy, budget, policy enforcement and operational management. She said the uniformed chief of department manages tactical emergency operations, while she focuses on civilian leadership, inter-agency coordination and capital planning. She said she has spent decades working through every tier of the department.
She said the FDNY promotes fire safety through community outreach, free smoke alarm installations, CPR training and building code inspections. It also runs education programs on social media and in public schools, senior centers and community events. She listed recent changes at the department: tactical drones and robotics, specialized response units, brush fire cameras, electronic multiple casualty incident management, and a modernized computer-aided dispatch system.
Her advice to New Yorkers was to maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. She also said to charge lithium-ion batteries safely, use only UL certified batteries, and charge outdoors in a spot that does not block an exit. She encouraged people to get trained in CPR and Stop the Bleed.
Key facts
- Outlet
- amNY (PoliticsNY special edition)
- Date
- 11/04/2026
- Agency
- Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)
- Official
- Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore
- Sponsor
- New York City Police Benevolent Association
- FDNY programs named
- Free smoke alarm installations, CPR training, building code inspections, community education
- Battery advice
- Use only UL certified lithium-ion batteries and charge outdoors in a location that does not block an exit
- Technology named
- Tactical drones and robotics, brush fire cameras, electronic multiple casualty incident management, updated computer-aided dispatch
What it means
Landlords
The commissioner put smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at the top of her safety list. Owners may want to check that alarms in their units are installed and working, and remind tenants about safe lithium-ion battery charging.
Tenants and voucher holders
The FDNY says it offers free smoke alarm installations and CPR training. Tenants who use e-bikes or scooters were told to use UL certified batteries and to charge them where they do not block an exit.
Caseworkers
The free smoke alarm installations and safety education the FDNY says it runs at senior centers and community events may be useful referrals for clients. The article does not explain how to sign up.
The highlights
- FDNY offers free smoke alarm installations and CPR training.
- Fire prevention work includes comprehensive building code inspections.
- New tools include tactical drones, robotics and brush fire cameras.
Why it matters Landlords
Working alarms and safe battery charging cut fire risk in rental buildings, and FDNY inspections enforce building codes.
What to do: Check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your units work.
Not known yet
- How a resident or building owner requests a free FDNY smoke alarm installation
- Who is eligible for the free smoke alarm and CPR programs
- Whether any new FDNY inspection rules or enforcement changes for residential buildings are planned
- How landlords and tenants should apply the outdoor charging advice in apartment buildings without outdoor space
Background
In New York City, owners of multiple dwellings generally must install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Tenants generally must keep them working and report problems. HPD enforces these housing maintenance requirements in residential buildings. The FDNY handles fire prevention, fire code inspections and public fire safety education.
Summary written by Bulwark from amNY’s reporting. The original story is at politicsny.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0