Flames and smoke billow from the roof of the new Doherty Memorial High School construction site in Worcester (Photo | twitter.com/FporcFranco)

The construction manager for the new Doherty Memorial High School project will be fined after a fire revealed welding was taking place at the site even though its hot work permit had expired.

Fontaine Bros., Inc. will be fined a total of $300 by the Worcester Fire Department for three violations, according to a spokesperson for the city.

The violations include performing hot work in non-designated locations without a hot work permit, failure of the hot work operator to handle equipment so as to not endanger lives and failure to comply with requirements relating to the safeguarding of structures undergoing construction, alteration or demolition.

An investigation of the Sep. 12 fire at the construction of the new high school determine the cause was a welding incident.

Officials reported heavy flames and smoke from the roof of 299 Highland St. when they arrived at the scene just after 3 p.m.. The fire was located on the roof of one of four buildings that are part of the construction of the new high school.

The fire department immediately started a “defense attack using aerial apparatus to put the fire out” and it was under control in about 30 minutes, Deputy Fire Chief Adam Roche reported.

The welding incident ignited roofing materials, according to a press release from the Worcester Fire Department and city of Worcester.

The roofing materials had been placed on the structure’s roof earlier in the day on Monday, Roche said, and fueled the fire.

Though welding was occurring at the site, Roche said the construction company’s hot work permit from the fire department had expired as of June 26.

Hot work is defined by the state as any work that involves heat, spark or flame that is capable of starting fires or explosions, such as welding.

The fire did not cause structural damage and will have minimal impact on the timeline and cost of the school’s construction, according to Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez.

Following the fire, officials were not certain how the construction schedule for the over $300 million school project would be impacted. The school is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2024.

Fontaine Bros., Inc is working with Dimeo Construction to build the school, according to its website.

The Fontaine Bros. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The WFD has issued the project additional hot work permits since the fire, according to the city spokesperson.

“The permits are issued to the individual companies once they submit the location of work on the site and the scope of work on the site,” the spokesperson said in an email. “If either of those factors changes, the company is required to apply for a new permit.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.