Playing With Fire: Software glitch vulnerability

<p>News 12 revealed last night that a yeshiva that caught fire in Mount Kisco hadn&rsquo;t been inspected for seven years despite documented safety violations.</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 8, 2017, 5:00 AM

Updated 2,603 days ago

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Playing With Fire: Software glitch vulnerability
News 12 revealed last night that a yeshiva that caught fire in Mount Kisco hadn’t been inspected for seven years despite documented safety violations. Other municipalities may also be vulnerable to similar safety oversights.
A fire destroyed the Yeshiva of Nitra in Mount Kisco on Feb. 17. A fire inspection seven years ago had turned up infractions like outdated fire extinguishers, but the yeshiva never had any legally required follow-ups until after the fire. It turns out the oversight was due to a problem using Municity – computer software used by the town to run its online inspection calendar. It’s run by SCA Software.
Will Lavossier, of SCA Software, says they have not done a forensic analysis yet, but he believes town workers, in need of more training, likely failed to properly set up the alerts.
Nearly 310 municipalities across the country rely on Municity to generate inspection alerts.
“Every municipality should check up their software and contact us if they need more training,” says Lavossier. “We will be looking as a company whether to do an email press release to our customers.”
Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Mike Kaplowitz vowed to get his office involved, especially after News 12’s investigation revealed 19 other similar past-due inspections in the town of New Castle.


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