Just below the ceiling of a third-floor room at the Boston Fire Department Headquarters are the photos of firefighters who have died in the line of duty. A portrait of Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr., a 24-year veteran of the Boston Fire Department who was killed battling a three-alarm fire at a house in Dorchester last May, was added to the solemn display this summer.
On Wednesday, (Nov. 4) standing just a few feet from the photo, Boston Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall announced that lithium-ion batteries stored in a plastic toolbox caused the fire that claimed Kilduff’s life.
“The Boston Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Unit completed the investigation of the fire scene at 18 Treadway Rd. in Dorchester, and determined the origin and cause of the fire that tragically claimed the life of Boston firefighter Robert Kilduff Jr. of Rescue 2,” said Marshall.
“Investigators determined that the fire originated in the rear portion of the building on the third-floor enclosed porch. The investigation determined that the fire was caused by thermal runaway, involving multiple lithium-ion batteries stored inside of plastic toolboxes.”
Firefighters responded to 18 Treadway Rd at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23. About 30 minutes later, a “mayday” was declared after Kilduff fell off the third-floor porch. A 24-year veteran of the Boston Fire Department, a third-generation firefighter, and a US Marine Corps vet, Kilduff was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The fire on Treadway Road in which Firefighter Kilduff was killed after falling from a third-floor window. BFD image
At Wednesday afternoon’s news conference, Marshall clarified that, while the origin and cause investigation is complete, “the broader investigation into the line-of-duty death of firefighter Kilduff remains ongoing.”
Investigations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Boston Fire Department’s Board of Inquiry are currently in progress, he said.
“These investigations will examine all of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” said Marshall. “We will allow these processes to proceed without speculation or premature conclusions. Information and findings will be made available as appropriate upon completion of respective investigations.”
Until then, Marshall and Fire Chief Keith Kelly of the BFD’s Special Operations Command emphasize the importance of lithium-ion battery safety.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable power sources in common everyday items like phones, cordless vacuums, and power tools, as well as in large-scale outdoor equipment such as electric scooters, drones, and grid energy storage systems.
Since it’s likely that just about everyone has a lithium-ion battery, it’s important to know how to properly store, charge, and inspect them.
According to Kelly, batteries should be stored at room temperature, only used on hard, stable surfaces, and checked routinely.
Fire Chief Keith Kelly of the BFD’s Special Operations Command. Cassidy McNeeley photo
“Look for signs of swelling, leaks, corrosion, or any sort of damage. You never want to charge a battery you suspect could be compromised.”
Kelly advised everyone to purchase batteries certified by a nationally recognized testing company such as Underwriters Laboratories.
“You always want to use the batteries for what they were manufactured for. Try always to use the charging cable that came with that battery,” said Kelly.
He continued: “I’m sure you guys have all experienced that a battery no longer holds a charge … going online and not buying the brand name battery that came with the original device and using a cheap knockoff you can get online. That is a very common cause of thermal runaway.”
Kelly, a classmate of Kilduff’s, got emotional toward the end of the press conference.
He clarified that his goal isn’t to scare people, but rather to ensure that all batteries are being properly stored, used, and inspected.
“These batteries power so much of our daily lives, but also carry very serious risks,” added Mayor Michelle Wu. “We owe it to all of our community members to educate our residents about the dangers and how to prevent fires like this one.”
Wu added: “Bobby Kilduff gave his life in the line of duty, doing what our firefighters do every day. Putting themselves in harm’s way to protect their neighbors and our community. He made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our city, and we are continuing to work on several efforts to honor his legacy and support his family. And alongside that grief, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we understand exactly what happened at the fire and what we can learn from it.”
