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Owner Of Beacon St. Brownstone Suing Welding Company For Deadly Blaze

BOSTON (CBS) --- The owner of the Beacon Street brownstone where two Boston firefighters were killed last month, is suing those he believes were responsible for causing the fire.

The suit filed Tuesday by the executor of the estate of Michael Callahan, the owner of 298 Beacon Street, targets the owners of 296 Beacon St., Oliver Realty LP; welding company D & J Iron Works of Malden and the welding company's owner Guiseppe Falcone. The suits alleges negligence and seeks damages against Oliver Realty.

Read: Full Complaint

After the fire, Acting Boston Fire Commissioner John Hasson said welders were working on an iron hand railing behind 296 Beacon Street when the sparks "extended to a wooden structure in the rear" and eventually started the fire at 298 Beacon.

On Tuesday, Oliver Realty acknowledged the suit but declined to make a further statement to WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

Oliver Realty released a statement in the days after the fire, saying they contracted with a third-party to install the railings and it was the company's understanding that the railings would be made offsite and then installed.

Boston Fire says there was no fire detail at the scene during the welding and that there is no record of anyone requesting a permit for that job. In most cases, a fire detail is required for welding work, but not in all instances.

Boston Fire Lt. Ed Walsh, 43, and firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33, died when they became trapped in the burning basement of 298 Beacon Street on March 26.

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