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Deck fire damages South Boston apartments after somebody uses a planter as an ashtray
By adamg on Wed, 05/27/2015 - 6:23am
W. 6 St. Photo by Mike Connolly
UPDATE: BFD reports: "Cause of roof deck fire 165 W 6th St.was careless disposal of smoking material.Specifically,using a planter as an ashtray."
The Boston Fire Department reports a fire called in around 1:25 a.m. at 165 W. 6 St. displaced at least 20 residents and caused an estimated $250,000 in damage.
No residents were injured in the two-alarm fire, which started on a rooftop deck.
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Comments
Grill. I'd put 20 bucks on it
Grill. I'd put 20 bucks on it.
Really?
You don't think that deck chose to spontaneously combust?
(yeah, people are really stupid...there's a reason this is against the fire codes)
I'll take that bet
1:25 AM, I'm going with improper disposal of smoking materials.
Tough Call
I can definitely see thinking you're more likely smoking than grilling at that hour but fire can take a while to build until it's noticed, particularly on a roof.
I think charcoal grill left to "burn itself out" when it was mostly but not completely extinguished is a good bet but not a safe one.
But heck, we've seen fires from electrical problems that charred wood over years and finally erupted.
Props to zetag!
Can I pay you in virtual French Toast?
Looks like you are right:
Looks like you are right:
https://twitter.com/BostonFire/status/603577603715428352
Cause of roof deck fire 165 W 6th St.was careless disposal of smoking material.Specifically,using a planter as an ashtray.
Not to start a Yuppie argument
But I would bet my last dollar some Yuppie was on the roof smoking and flicked the butt onto the deck or tried to snuff it out in a mulch filled planter. I send them doing this all the time.
Not to start a Yuppie argument
But I'm just going to throw some random crap against the wall, with absolutely no evidence or way to back it up. This way everyone will know I'm a moron instead of just thinking it.
The shit stuck to the wall.
He nailed it.
How did we rule out the possibility
that it was some drunk, degenerate townie, who was too intoxicated on a Tuesday night to properly dispose of their ciggys?
Because
Even drunk degenerate townies know better than to spend 300K on an apartment, ahem, condo, a block from the projects.
Heard that argument once
Heard that argument once before in JP say 1997 - now those $300k one-floor-of-a-3-family are now going for $500k.
Roof top decks , an urban
Roof top decks , an urban dwellers back yard.
City of Boston should pass a law, who ever has a roof deck should require to have a heavy duty fire extinguisher or outdoor fire sprinklers, if owner of building has the luxury to have a deck on the roof, he or she should have have the luxury to afford to have a $10,000 outdoor fire sprinkler.
Good thing that wasn't a real bet
Although the real cause was even stupider: Somebody used a planter as an ashtray.
Hibachi?
Some folks trying to be trendy forgot to dowse the damn thing.
"trying to be trendy"?
Is it now considered "trendy" to use a style of grill that was popular in the 70s?
You'll have to forgive her
Her calendar broke.
Reminds me of the time I was
Reminds me of the time I was at Amrheins and parked behind. I noticed a charcoal grill on the second landing of a three story wooden back staircase.
I can only imagine how nervous neighbors must get when the owner lights that thing up. This is the downside of a multi dwelling building. You can't pick you neighbors.
Nope
But you can call the BFD.
And before someone starts crying:
"Section 33.08
This ordinance shall be enforced by the Boston Fire Department."
From what I've heard...
...BFD loves those calls, or at least, they respond with enthusiasm. Friend of mine witnessed the Brighton station respond more than once to a call of a grill on a porch. According to her, they'd roll up and thoroughly douse it with the hoses.
A brilliant stupid yuppie move,,,, as expected
We can expect to see more incidents like this. I live across the deck from that unit, and after it was sold last year we never knew who was up there. Anyone stupid enough to throw a butt into a planter of dry potting soil deserves to be sued for: $250,000 damages (which is pretty low), another $125,000 from the condo unit next door whose newly installed garage ceiling was totally destroyed, personal damage from the other owners who lost everything, and I hope criminal charges are filed against that unit owner. If there was a way to sue someone for being a complete idiot, I'd be up front. I had to tend to the Fire Dept, utility people and then lock up after they left... I'm ready to support a ban on roof decks in Southie, plus make mandatory inspections for existing decks with a fee to cover the inspection. All they do is cause excessive noise all night for the enjoyment of a few people, and inconvenience dozens of neighbors around them.
Yeah, townies never do anything stupid
And never have. They are, obviously, perfection incarnate.
Townies
are from Charlestown. And next time a "townie" burns down their condo by throwing a cigarette butt into a dried out planter, please let us know. I can tell you 6+ fires started by Yuppies and their stupid actions.
You're a complete idiot...
...if you think that the term "townies" refers exclusively people from Charlestown. Or perhaps you've just never traveled beyond your little cabbage patch.
If you are talking to someone
If you are talking to someone from Boston and refer to someone as a "townie", he/ she will think you are talking about a person from Charlestown, just the way it is.
Like I said...
...never been out of your little cabbage patch. Like, to Cambridge maybe.
Don't go to Cambridge unless I have to
In Boston there is a neighborhood that ends in "town", makes sense that other Bostonians call them Townies. I don't think that warrants you calling someone a complete idiot.
Locals from Cambridge can absolutely be townies. Matt and Ben? Sure they're townies from Cambridge. But there are no Townies from Southie, Dot, Westie etc. Although, you may find Townies living in these places, make sense?
You are correct sir
You are correct sir
But as s/he did not capitalize the T in townie s/he must have meant it as the generic and not specific definition. What would the correct term for native sons/daughters of south boston be? Locals? Natives? That's what i would say but i am from dot so i defer to those in the know.