A tragic incident on the F train in Brooklyn has ignited widespread outrage over the MTA’s failure to provide accessible fire extinguishers to subway riders. On Sunday, a woman was set on fire by an attacker while asleep on the train. Despite an MTA worker eventually extinguishing the flames, it was too late to save her.
The MTA confirmed that fire extinguishers are available only to its employees and emergency personnel, with no plans to make them accessible to the public. This revelation has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including Rev. Kevin McCall, who questioned the agency’s priorities. “The MTA has a billion-dollar budget, yet no fire extinguishers for passengers?” McCall said.
City Council members also expressed their outrage, calling the incident a result of multiple systemic failures, including issues related to public safety and the city’s handling of homelessness and immigration. The alleged attacker, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, has been charged with the crime, but his motive remains unclear.
The tragic death has sparked renewed calls for better safety measures in the subway system, highlighting concerns about both infrastructure and passenger protection in one of the world’s busiest transit systems.
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