Welding company in fatal Boston fire faces fines

BOSTON (AP) — The owners of a welding company blamed for a fire that killed two Boston firefighters are facing fines of up to $58,000 after federal workplace safety regulars concluded the firm didn't follow proper precautions.

Investigators determined that the March fire in the Back Bay was caused because D & J Iron Works allowed its employees to install railings using arc welding equipment during high winds. Sparks ignited the fire.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Friday that D & J lacked an effective fire prevention and protection program, failed to train its employees in fire safety, did not have a fire watch present and did not move the railing to a safe area.

Several phone numbers for D & J and the owners were not in service Friday.