Michael Maroney, Esq. v. Department of Fire Services (SPR 20253505)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records December 1, 2025 SPR25/3505 Glenn M. Rooney, Esq. General Counsel Massachusetts Department of Fire Services 1 State Road, P.O. Box 1025 Stow, MA 01775 Dear Attorney Rooney: I have received the petition of Michael T. Maroney, Esq., of Holland & Knight LLP, appealing the response of the Department of Fire Services (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 27, 2025, Attorney Maroney requested the following records related to an identified property: [1] Any documents related to any investigation into the fire on July 13, 2025 at the Property. [2] All documents evidencing the Fall River Fire Department’s response to the July 13, 2025 fire at the Property. [3] All documents concerning any component of the sprinkler system removed from the Property on July 13, 2025 or thereafter. [4] All documents concerning DFS’s involvement in the development of the Massachusetts fire code, including sections related to fire alarm and sprinkler systems. [5] All documents concerning training standards for fire alarm and sprinkler inspections. [6] All documents concerning any product recall of sprinklers. [7] All documents evidencing inspection guidance unique to multiple occupancy residential buildings accounting for their scale, varying points of egress, and sprinkler system needs that differ from one-and-two family homes. [8] All written and electronic correspondence with, or internally about, the Property. [9] All documents evidencing visits made by the DFS to the Property. [10] All documents evidencing code violations at the Property. [11] All documents evidencing any tests of the sprinkler and/or fire alarm systems by DFS at the Property. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832 • Fax: (617) 727 5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Glenn M. Rooney, Esq. SPR25/3505 Page 2 December 1, 2025 [12] All documents and communications between anyone at DFS and any laboratory regarding the testing of any sprinkler heads or other sprinkler components removed from the Property. The Department responded on August 28, 2025. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Attorney Maroney petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/3505, was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, I learned that the Department provided a further response on December 1, 2025. Where this appeal was opened based on the Department’s August 28, 2025 response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Attorney Maroney may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s December 1st response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Michael T. Maroney, Esq.