State Representative Lipper-Garabedian Joins Massachusetts Legislature to Act to Prevent Future Hot Work Tragedies
New law creates public database and automatic alerts aimed at preventing fires like the 2014 Back Bay tragedy
(BOSTON—6/19/2026) State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose) joined the Massachusetts Legislature yesterday to pass a bill to protect firefighters and tradespeople from conditions that took the lives of Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy in 2014.
The legislation creates a system to discourage unauthorized and untrained welding and other ‘hot work,’ which caused the Back Bay fire in 2014. S.1646, An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes, helps prevent such fires by keeping tabs on violations of state law. Following recommendations of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission, convened following the tragedy, the bill requires consistent tracking and notification of hot work code violations.
"Firefighters keep our communities safe and risk their lives to help others," said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. "It is vital that they are as protected as possible from danger on the job to prevent future tragedies. This legislation, informed by the Walsh-Kennedy Commission honoring Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, ensures monitoring and accountability for hot work violations, enhancing safety for both firefighters and tradespeople."
“The data that will be collected as a result of this bill will help to identify and prevent another tragedy like the one that claimed the lives of Boston Fire Department Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I would like to thank Chairman Cahill and Chairman Ryan, my colleagues in the House, and our partners in the Senate for working to get this critical legislation to the Governor’s desk for her signature.”
The bill would require the state Department of Fire Services to track code violations related to hot work—welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—and make the information publicly available through an online database. A new automated notification system would also alert affected property owners and insurance companies in order to help prevent tragedies.
Both branches of the Legislature enacted the bill and sent it to Governor Healey for her signature.
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