Mom of Fallen Boston Firefighter Still Pushing for Welding Safety Legislation

There was more than sadness when a mother heard about a Boston firefighter suffering cardiac arrest while battling a building fire over the weekend. There was anger.

Kathy Crosby-Bell has been on a mission since her son, Boston Firefighter Michael Kennedy, and Lt. Edward Walsh were killed in a 2014 fighting a brownstone fire.

Sparks from a welder's torch on a windy day was eyed as the cause of the fire that killed the firefighters while the weekend fire has officials looking at a similar scenario, WBZ reported.

After her son's death, she refused to sit idly by. She established the Last Call Foundation, and has been a staunch advocate for training and oversight of welders.

Two bills are currently in the state legislature that would require welders to undergo training using a National Fire Protection Association program. Fines would be given for anyone caught welding without the training while they also could face criminal charges if the illegal activity leads to an injury or death. 

"There's somebody to hold responsible. Not like what happened with Mike and Ed. Nobody was held responsible. On March 26, it will be 12 years since that fire happened. And the immediate aftermath was everyone wanted to help and do something. Well, that faded so quickly with the politicians and we have to wonder why."

The firefighter who collapsed over the weekend remains hospitalized.