To the Editor:

As concerned residents, we are following up on Susan Jefferies’s excellent letter [“Whole Industries Are Lobbying Against Safety Standards That Would Make Fires Less Likely,” Mailbox, Feb. 25], which not only alerts us to the dangers of lightweight wood construction, but also explains the economic motivators which have led to its wide use in multifamily housing complexes in so many towns in New Jersey and throughout the country. Ms. Jefferies’s thoughtful analysis serves as a clarion call to citizens to act in the interest of the health and safety of all residents.

We ask that you voice support for Bill A4195 — recently introduced into the state legislature by Assemblyman Scott Rumana (R) — that, if enacted, would impose a moratorium — for up to 2 years — on the construction in New Jersey of light wood frame multi-story apartment housing. The official summary of the Bill states:

“A4195 requires evaluation of appropriateness of light frame construction for multiple dwellings and imposes a moratorium on light frame construction until determination and recommendations are adopted.”

Light frame wood construction is the type of housing that burned down in Edgewater, N.J. on January 21, creating an inferno that destroyed 240 apartments, displaced 500 residents and forced the temporary evacuation of 520 more from surrounding houses.

The proposed moratorium would last while the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) reviews the State’s current building code provisions, up to the two-year maximum. The DCA’s review currently is underway, motivated by concern over how the Edgewater complex’s wood frame construction — that met current code requirements — supported a fire of such speed and intensity.

Residents should urge their representatives to support this bill. The following paragraph is a suggested message:

“I support Assembly Bill A4195 that would impose a moratorium on light wood frame construction for multi-family housing in the State of New Jersey and strongly urge the State Assembly and Senate to pass this Bill. The recent raging fire at the apartment complex in Edgewater, N.J., which destroyed 240 apartments leaving 500 people homeless and forcing temporary evacuation of 520 surrounding residents, is proof that current code requirements for such housing allow too great a risk to residents, firefighters, and surrounding properties.”

Linda Auerbach

Lytle Street

Anita Garoniak, Marco Gottardis

Harris Road

Marc Monseau

Jefferson Road

Grace Sinden

Ridgeview Circle