Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York

"We are calling for an outside investigation into the specifications and selection of spare apparatus by the New York City Fire Department," said Steve Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. "It is blatantly obvious that the use of outdated and unsafe equipment as spare vehicles is a common practice for the FDNY, jeopardizing both firefighter and public safety, and must be stopped."

Cassidy's comments came after Mayor Bloomberg vowed at a press conference to "look at every aspect of our procedures" to "make sure that an event like this doesn't happen in the future."

The FDNY said it began its own probe after firefighter Joseph Moore on Friday suffered a fractured skull when he tumbled from a 17-year-old spare vehicle used in place of a truck being serviced — a fall many blamed on a loose side door.

GIRL, 7, DIES IN BX. FIRE
By JOE McGURK and BRIGITTE WILLLIAMS

A 7-year old girl died in a fire in her Harlem bedroom last night, authorities said.

The girl, whose name was not immediately released, was discovered underneath a pile of debris on the second-floor of the six-story building at 285 St. Nicholas Avenue.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The blaze broke out shortly after 11 p.m. and was confined to the girl's bedroom, which was filled with papers, fire officials.

There were four adult family members home at the time. They all smelled smoke and tried to rescue the girl, officials said.

But the room was fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke quickly spread throughout the apartment, they told the officials.

The adults, who included the girl's parents, were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

The fire was brought under control 30 minutes later.

Tearful neighbor Bakoye Koye, 17, said she used to baby-sit the victim.

"She was in my house every day even when I got home from school," she said. "She was my best friend in the world."