Fire damage from gas grill on Charlestown roof deck. (Boston Globe, click image for article.)Boston Fire Department and the Mayor’s office issued a reminder to residents regarding grilling safety after today’s 4-alarm fire in Charlestown, started by a propane gas grill tank on a roof deck. No one was hurt in the blaze which spread to neighboring condo buildings, although 9 firefighters and 2 civilians were treated for heat-related injuries. Fire code “prohibits the use or storage of propane used for barbecue cooking inside or on balconies above the first floor of any building or structure used for habitation.”
According to the Boston Globe, “A propane grill left operating unattended on the roof of a Charlestown condo burst into flames today and detonated at least three other propane tanks on grills illegally stored on the roof, Boston fire officials said. The four-alarm fire sent black smoke billowing skyward and had firefighters battling both gas-fueled flames and the intense heat on a day when Boston’s official temperature broke 100 degrees.” Read the full article here.
From the Mayor’s Office, “The Boston Fire Department and all of the 125 firefighters who battled the 4 alarm blaze today in dangerously high heat conditions should be commended. While this afternoon’s Charlestown fire resulted in 9 firefighters and 2 civilians have been treated for heat exhaustion, we are fortunate that more were not seriously injured.
The official cause of this fire remains under investigation, but it appears to have been caused by a grill on the roof. Tonight I want to remind residents that incidents like this one can be avoided. During this hot weather, cooking indoors is not comfortable but we must remember to be safe when grilling outside.” - Mayor Thomas M. Menino
Residents are reminded of the following city and state regulations for grilling safety:
The use of portable charcoal cooking grilles on or within a building or structure is prohibited. They must remain on the ground away from any structures.
- Under no circumstances may gas or charcoal grills be used on fire escapes or fire escape balconies.
- The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention prohibits the use or storage of propane used for barbecue cooking inside or on balconies above the first floor of any building or structure used for habitation.
- Propane containers must be located in areas where there is free air circulation, at least 3 feet from building openings (such as windows and doors), and at least 5 feet from air intakes of air conditioning and ventilating systems
BBQ Safety Information From the Boston Fire Department
Saturday, August 21, 2010 
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