It's been an emotional week as Boston laid to rest two firefighters who died in a 9-alarm Back Bay fire last Wednesday. Today at a press conference, Boston Fire Commissioner John Hasson reported that the fire was accidental, sparked by nearby welding work.
When it began, the fire was not an immediate crisis situation. Top floor residents left on the fire escape, others walked out with the help of fire fighters. But the basement quickly became an inferno. Two firefighters died and the others were ordered to stay out of the building. One week later, Hasson revealed the cause.
"After an intense, deliberate, methodical investigation, we are confident in announcing the cause of the fire was in fact due to welders working at the rear of the building,” Hasson said.
At least one worker was welding a metal handrail behind and adjacent to 298 Beacon Street, officials said. Sparks from the welding probably festered in the shingles.
“The fire ignited. It’s an older, wooden building and it’s probably dried out," Hasson continued. "The fire got rolling, it was fed by the wind off the Charles, and ultimately consumed the whole building.”
From the start, officials blamed those high winds for igniting a fire that spread faster than any they’d ever seen. As the focus turned to the welders, questions surfaced on whether those workers had, or even needed, permits. The fire department and police commissioner William Evans confirmed that a permit is required for welding, and this site didn’t have one.
“There was no fire detail and at this time we don’t believe there was any permit pulled for that particular job,” Evans said.
Police and fire officials declined to give information on who was welding, or whether charges will be filed. Evans said the firefighters' deaths appear "unintentional."
"It’s a tragic outcome, but we are confident this was an unintentional death at this time," Evans said. "Whether anyone should be held culpable at this point as the investigation goes on that will be a determination."
The investigation is ongoing with the help of the Suffolk Country District Attorney’s office. It’s perhaps some relief to the dueling emotions of the week: today’s facts and earlier funerals. Lt. Ed Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy were laid to rest in Watertown and West Roxbury, and their families await more information.
