Boston Fire Lt. Ed Walsh, a Watertown native, was killed fighting a fire in the Back Bay on March 26. Photo by Boston Fire Dept.
The fire in the Back Bay that killed Boston Fire Lt. and Watertown native Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy was sparked by welders doing work on the building, Boston officials said.
The fire on March 26 started in 296 Beacon St., the building behind the home in which Walsh and Kennedy died in an explosion while fighting the blaze in the basement.
During a press conference Friday morning Boston Fire Commissioner John Hasson said welders had been working on the building.
“Sparks from the welding got under the clapboards, the fire ignited and got rolling,” Hasson said. “It was set off by wind off the Charles River and ultimately consumed the building.”
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said that no homicide charges have been filed in the case.
“We are confident this is an unintentional death,” Evans said. “Whether someone should be held responsible will be a determination made by investigators and the District Attorney’s office.”
Welders were working on an iron railing. Evans said no permit has been found for the work, adding that all welding and cutting work requires a permit. Often welding work requires a fire detail, but officials did not comment on whether one would have been required in this case.