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Chelsea official warns of summer fire risks, urges safe grilling and battery storage
Summary
City Administrator Fidel Maltés outlined summer fire-safety guidance including a ban on fireworks in Massachusetts, a 10-foot rule for grills, precautions for e-bike batteries, and proper disposal of cigarette butts.
City Administrator Fidel Maltés urged Chelsea residents to prioritize fire safety as temperatures rise and summer activities increase.
"La seguridad debe ser lo primero," Maltés said, noting that outdoor grilling, e‑bike batteries and discarded cigarette butts raise the risk of residential fires during warmer months. He told residents to keep grills at least 10 feet from homes and to never leave open flames unattended or use grills on balconies.
Maltés reminded residents that fireworks are not permitted in Massachusetts and recommended attending professionally organized public displays. He also warned that batteries used in electric bicycles can overheat and catch fire; residents should store batteries properly and stop charging them if they emit smoke, change color, become hot or make unusual noises. The administrator emphasized proper disposal of cigarette butts, saying past incidents in Chelsea have led to large fires because of improperly discarded butts.
The Chelsea Fire Department was described as ready to respond, but Maltés framed resident vigilance as the first line of defense. He advised reporting dangerous conditions immediately by calling 9‑1‑1.
