Needham and Dedham fire departments must now report welding and hot work violations to a new state database that anyone can search online.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services launched the database Sept. 27, the same day the underlying law took effect. Gov. Maura Healey signed Chapter 114 of the Acts of 2026 on June 26.

The law requires every local fire department in the state to submit written notices of code violations and fines tied to hot work, a category that includes welding, grinding and cutting with torches. Violations covered include performing hot work without a permit, working without required training certification and failing to maintain that certification.

The database, hosted on the DFS website, is updated weekly. It also triggers automatic notifications to affected property owners and the violator's insurance company.

Rooted in a deadly fire

The Department of Fire Services described the law as one of several measures that grew out of the March 26, 2014, fire at 298 Beacon Street in Boston's Back Bay. Unpermitted welding sent sparks or slag that ignited a nearby shed, and the blaze grew to nine alarms. Two firefighters died. Boston Fire Lt. Edward J. Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy were killed, and more than a dozen other firefighters were injured.

Since 2018, anyone seeking a municipal permit to perform, supervise or delegate hot work has been required to complete a training program approved by the State Fire Marshal's office. The new law adds a public accountability layer: violations are no longer tracked only at the local level.

What Needham and Dedham residents should know

Local fire departments submit violations to DFS through an online form. DFS said the database will be populated over the coming weeks and months as departments begin reporting.

Hot work permits are required from the local fire department for most welding, cutting and grinding jobs. Exceptions exist for certain licensed tradespeople already pulling permits under specialty codes and for homeowners and hobbyists, according to DFS.

Anyone who believes their name was included in the database in error, or whose violation was successfully appealed, can contact DFS at [email protected] with supporting documentation. The DFS Code Compliance Desk is available at 978-567-3375, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The database is searchable at mass.gov/info-details/hot-work-requirements.