Under the town’s new rules, any commercial project involving sparks, flames or heat will need to track its hazards and safeguards to ensure a fire won’t start.
The Town Council unanimously approved a hot work ordinance — new rules prompted by a July roof fire at New Milford High School — at its meeting on Monday. Fire Marshal Kevin Reynolds requested the ordinance at the Council’s Oct. 24 meeting. He said having such an ordinance would allow for better oversight of local construction projects that could be a fire risk, thereby preventing accidents, like the school fire, which caused major damage and sent six firefighters to the hospital. “Hot work” is any activity or process that involves open flames or that generates sparks or heat.