Hey, there! Log in / Register
Another propane grill sets another building on fire, this time in the South End
By adamg on Thu, 08/09/2012 - 8:18pm
Remains of the deck. Photo by BFD.
The Boston Fire Department reports a propane grill sparked a fire around 8 p.m. at 20 Wellington St. that did an estimated $500,000 in damage.
The fire, which started on a third-floor deck, damaged at least nine apartments - and the roof of a neighboring building.
Yesterday evening, firefighters battled a propane-grill fire in Roslindale that left 18 people homeless and sent one firefighter to the hospital.
Portable propane grills are illegal on upper floors.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Grills are legal, propane is not
Actually, having a propane grill on your deck is perfectly legal as long as there is no propane.
527 Commonwealth of Mass. Board of Fire Prevention regulation 6.07 (5) (a) prohibits the use or storage of liquefied petroleum gas containers used for barbecue cooking inside or on balconies above the first floor of any building or structure used for habitation. Also under the authority of Article 1, section 1.05(b), the Boston Fire Department prohibits the use or storage of liquified petroleum gas containers used for barbecue cooking on first floor porches, decks or balconies that are enclosed by a roof/ceiling or other confining material for the following reasons...
http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/safety/bbq_safety...
Actually Ben, they are all
Actually Ben, they are all banned under Boston Fire Prevention Code
Where do you see this in the
Where do you see this in the fire prevention code?
I know that there are a number of large condo buildings in Boston that have roof top grills in common areas, but they use piped in gas.
Propane tanks tend to heat up much hotter on roof tops. When they get hot enough, the gas (which is stored as a liquid) is let out via the relief valve.
One of the other consequences of using propane tanks is that in the event of a fire due to something else in the building, the fire department has no control if there are explosive tanks in the building being stored. With piped in gas, they simply shut off the city gas line to the building.
As for the flaring up argument... yes it's pretty bad. But then again, there are lots of people who burn down their homes with kitchen stoves and other appliances as well.
Be careful!
As a firefighter for 24 years
As a firefighter for 24 years & the former assistant Fire Marshal for the City I can assure you that all portable grills are banned. Piped in gas is Natural Gas and subject to different regulations.
Having said that, it is a game of cat & mouse with most people. You tell them to remove it, they say ok, and they put it right back after you leave.
Oh, yeah?
I'm sure that will serve as a source of much comfort for the people who were displaced by this uncaring, stupid asshole.
That is why..
I have a nice little Char-Broil electric grill on my deck here in the South End. No gas or charcoal or flames to deal with, and, with lava rocks in the bottom and a wood chip smoker box, it works as well as a gas grill.
Hank Hill Would Tell You Propane Is Safe. And He is Right.
Really I don't get it.
Families across the city have propane grills in their backyards for years. Dozens of restaurant patios across the city use propane heaters. They're not blowing up left and right.
I understand that if one DOES blow up on an attached deck or roof it obviously would be more dangerous than one not touching the actual building.
But what is it about these rooftop grilles that has them blowing up all the time? You never ever hear any stories about it happening in people's backyards. If you periodically clean the grill (to the degree that a grill can be clean) and turn off the tank valve when not in use there is really no reason for a fire.
Are people in the South End more negligent? What is going on?
blow up?
who said anything about "blowing up"?
It could have been a grease fire that spread to something nearby, or they forgot to turn it off and it over heated, or a nearby plant caught fire or any number of things.
You are right they rarely "blow up".
Give me convenience or give me death
The main problem with grills on a porch of any type is that people usually put greasy burgers on the grill, then go back inside, shut the door, and crack open a cold beer. Or they cook the food, bring it in, and forget to turn it off.
If there's a flare up, and you're actually paying attention, or the grill is in the middle of your yard, no big deal. If you watching the Olympics while you're third floor deck catches on fire, you're pretty much SOL.
It's the severity of the consequnces, not the probability
Potentially you don't hear about propane grills catching fire in the back yard because when it happens, people just step back and let it burn out without calling the fire department, or, if they do call the fire department, it's put out easily and quickly, and, in any case, a small fire that doesn't damage a building rarely makes the news.
On the bright side...
No rats...
ZING!
thank you for making my day