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Boston's Famous Citgo Sign Catches Fire POSTED: 12:28 pm EDT October 15, 2008 UPDATED: 2:28 pm EDT October 15, 2008 BOSTON, Mass. -- The world-famous Citgo sign that sits behind the Green Monster in Fenway Park caught fire Wednesday. Two ladder trucks were dispatched to the sign late Wednesday morning. The fire blackened some of the panels on the red, white and blue sign. Fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald said flames were visible when firefighters got there, but the fire was quickly put out. MacDonald said the blaze was likely caused by an electrical short circuit and estimated the damage at about $5,000. The sign, said to be the largest sign in New England at 60 by 60 feet, was originally built over the Cities Service divisional office in 1940. The original neon tube sign was rebuilt in 2005 to feature thousands of LED lights. October 21, 2008 Don't Blame Neon! The Citgo sign that is located behind the Green Monster in Fenway Park caught fire on October 15, 2008. Immediately "neon" was the blame. Unfortunately the neon sign that was in the stadium since 1940 was rebuilt with LED's in 2005. So in reality it was an LED fire, not a neon fire. Why is it that neon is the scapegoat for all things that go wrong? Just because LED's are a newer technology, doesn't mean it is a better technology. Neon has stood the test of time, meanwhile LED's are still unproven. And yes LED's can cause fires as well!