Elmont Online

ALBANY -- Occupy Albany can keep its heaters and generators.

City public safety officials inspected the 50-plus-tent encampment in Academy Park on Wednesday afternoon, and while they suggested several things to the demonstrators, they made no prohibitions or confiscations.

"My concern is for the safety of the occupiers, the safety of the public, and that's why we conducted this safety inspection," said Albany Fire Chief Robert Forezzi. "If they follow our direction today I think everything will be safe here."

The amicable relationship between Albany officials and demonstrators contrasts sharply with similar protests -- framed loosely around frustration over income inequality -- around the state and nation. Police in Rochester have enforced an 11 p.m. curfew, and the New York City Fire Department last week confiscated gasoline-powered generators, citing them as a hazard.

A group of demonstrators met Tuesday with public safety officials at City Hall -- across from the encampment -- and agreed to Wednesday's inspection. Albany Police and prosecutors have not enforced a curfew in the park, though Gov. Andrew Cuomo insists protesters will be arrested if they expand west into adjacent LaFayette Park. In return, demonstrators have been willing to work with the city on a number of issues.

"It shows the power of respect," said Daniel Morrissey, 24, a leader of the protest's operations working group.

He led Forezzi, Jeffery Jamison of the Department of Building and Codes and other aides through the encampment. They saw three solar panels delivered Wednesday morning, now charging a cell phone, as well as the food tables and three portable toilets.

Forezzi expressed concern that straw, which contrasted against his black patent leather shoes, might allow fire to spread between tents and, in high winds, spark a blaze. He was particularly concerned about two propane-fueled space heaters and the generator, and suggested the heaters be reinforced at their base to prevent tipping and moved away from tents, onto non-flammable surfaces.

They suggested moving a fire extinguisher a bit further from the generator, tucked near Academy Park's western edge, and moving it to allow for better ventilation.

And never fuel the generator while its engine is hot, Forezzi stressed: "It will explode."

Officials also asked the demonstrators to create a more formal census of people spending the night, either a color-coded system or a map, Jamison said. In the event of an emergency, it would help rescuers search for missing people.

But this is a "dodgy process," Morrissey later explained. "It's difficult to get everybody to consent to putting their names on a list," he said.

There has been an effort to create a census of tents -- there are more tents than people looking to occupy them, most nights -- but acts of double-bunking and the inconstant population make a formal count difficult.

Morrissey estimated 30 to 70 people are spending each weeknight in the park, although that is a higher figure than other demonstrators have offered.

Reach Vielkind at 454-5081 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .