Aug 19, 2008 6:02 am US/Eastern
Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Conshohocken Blaze
CONSHOHOCKEN (CBS 3) ―
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The official cause of the 8-alarm Conshohocken blaze has been released as well as information regarding a lawsuit against the builder.
CBS
The official cause of the 8-alarm Conshohocken blaze has been released as well as information regarding a lawsuit against the builder.
Some of the tenants have moved back into their apartments in the Riverview Complex, but a couple residents are claiming negligence in a class-action lawsuit.
The District Attorney has found that the destructive fire was started by sparks from a welders' torch being used to repair several improperly stalled metal balconies.
The fire displaced nearly 400 people and destroyed two buildings.
Attorneys have released documents regarding the class action suit on behalf of the residents questioning why contractors were burning inside of two highly combustible wood buildings under construction.
"Using a 3,000 degree acetylene torch in a forest of wood construction projects is like using matches in a barn full of hay," attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi said.
The attorneys believe the fire spread so quickly to the occupied buildings because the attics of the buildings did not have sprinkler systems and the firewalls in the buildings did not extend to the rooftop.
"A fire like this should never occur, not with modern technology," said Mongeluzzi.
Attorneys claim the National Fire Protection Association Code requires sprinklers in attics of all 5-story buildings.
"There are five stories behind us, and there are no sprinklers in the attic," Mongeluzzi said.
The lawsuit could possibly expand from five tenants to several hundred, and the attorneys are calling on O'Neill Properties to create a fund to help the displaced tenants.
The building's developer said all safety codes were followed along with all safety procedures.
"In fact, these buildings performed extremely well," developer Brian O'Neill said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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