Article: WOODEN FIRE ESCAPE RAISES QUESTIONS.(MAIN)

Byline: JAY JOCHNOWITZ AND TRACEY TULLY Staff writers

ALBANY -- A fire that forced more than 100 people out of their homes and damaged six other buildings spread up a wooden fire escape that would normally be illegal under state law, officials said Tuesday.

But city records show that landlord Roger Ploof was able to convince a state review panel to grant him a variance allowing the combustible fire escape at 346 State St., in exchange for smoke detectors and emergency hallway lights.

The variance was granted in 1988 by the Albany Uniform Code Board of Review, a state Department of State panel that can grant exemptions to building and fire codes. ...

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