Builders in Omaha are operating under a new fire code after two historic buildings in Old Market burned within months of each other.
The Butternut Building was gutted by fire in January 2004, and three months later, the building that now houses Jobber's Canyon Restaurant went up in flames. Both fires started because of a welding torch.
"That was the common thread in most of these," said Assistant Fire Marshall Pio Porta. "They were related to some combustible construction and things of that nature getting started."
Since those fires, the Omaha Fire Department said on Monday, firefighters are hoping that changes to the fire code are keeping big fires from happening again. At the time of the Old Market Fires, Omaha city fire codes required a person -- called a fire watch -- to stay behind for 30 minutes after all hot welding was done.
"When you're doing welding and cutting, if you've got any kind of combustible material in there at all -- floors, walls, shafts, or anything -- after you do the hot work, you should have a fire watch there to make sure something didn't get ignited," Porta said.
The code was changed so that fire watches had to stay behind for two hours. Porta said the only way to judge the changes is by the number of fires, which have decreased. The new codes went into effect in July, and although there have been some fires in the Old Market, none have been caused by hot welding or cutters since 2004.
Previous Stories:
- October 4, 2005: New Restaurant Rises Out Of Flames
- June 29, 2005: 14 Months After Fire Restaurant Is Taking Shape
- December 3, 2004: Butternut Will Be Demolished
- January 16, 2004: Butternut Fire Ruled Accidental
- January 8, 2004: Omaha Landmark Burns
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