Suffolk County officially outlawed so-called “fire chasers” with a new law that bans aggressive home board-up companies from swarming fire scenes and pressuring traumatized families into costly contracts.
County Executive Ed Romaine signed the bi-partisan bill into law Wednesday — a day after it was approved by Suffolk lawmakers — putting the pushy businesses on notice that they can face big fines and even jail time for fooling families into deals that could cost them a small fortune.
“Unscrupulous persons will not be able to prey on those who may be at their most vulnerable after the loss of a business or home, and this new law will ensure that the bad actors who have misrepresented themselves will be held accountable,” Romaine, a Republican, said at the bill signing.
The measure, sponsored by former first responder and Republican Legislator Dominick Thorne, establishes a 1,000-foot buffer zone around fire vehicles to keep crews from swarming active scenes.
The law also requires that board-up companies provide written disclosures to homeowners that specify they do not work for the government, while raising fines from $1,000 to as much as $5,000 and establishing that repeat offenders can now face up to a year behind bars if they don’t follow the new rules.
“As a first responder I know firsthand how important it is for a reputable and licensed company to handle the work necessary after a fire has destroyed a home or a business,” Thorne said.
The crackdown comes nearly a decade after Suffolk first attempted to regulate the industry with a 2015 law requiring board-up companies to register with the county, but firefighters and lawmakers said that measure lacked teeth and allowed the so-called “fire chasers” to continue circling scenes unchecked.
First responders told The Post that crews often descend on active blazes with clipboards in hand and push panicked families into contracts before the flames consuming their homes are even out.
Multiple firefighters also said that the companies present their business as a “must,” and deceive homeowners into thinking they’re doing them a service while up-charging them thousands of dollars.
“There’s one guy in particular that goes around like a freaking vulture — tried to get the homeowner to agree to [to a contract] while he and his family are getting treated for smoke inhalation and crying over their now dead dog,” one local firefighter, who requested anonymity, said.
The county executive issued a warning to any shady dealers.
“Don’t take advantage of the residents of Suffolk County — or we will find you and you will be held responsible,” Romaine said.
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