To whom should occupants report a fire emergency if the interior pull station does not function?

In the event of a fire emergency where the interior pull station fails to function, the best course of action is to report the incident directly to emergency services, such as 911 or the FDNY dispatcher. This ensures that trained professionals are alerted immediately to the danger, allowing for a prompt response to control the fire and safeguard lives.

Reporting to emergency services is paramount because they have the resources and training necessary to handle fire emergencies effectively. They can dispatch fire apparatus, provide guidance to the occupants, and coordinate with safety personnel within the building to ensure a comprehensive emergency response.

While reporting the situation to the building owner or safety personnel may seem like a reasonable step, these individuals may not have the immediate ability to react as quickly as professional emergency responders. Meanwhile, local media should not be involved in urgent safety situations, as they would not provide assistance in mitigating the emergency at hand. Therefore, contacting 911 or the FDNY dispatcher is the most effective and appropriate action in this scenario.