We all remember wonderful but also (and sadly), tragic events that have occurred in our lives as well. As a kid, I remember when President Kennedy was assassinated (Nov 22, 1963), as well as Dr. Martin Luther King’s murder (April 4, 1968). When the Challenger shuttle blew up (January 28, 1986) and the "23rd Street Fire" in NYC (October 17, 1966) – we remember what we were doing when events like that happened-they get, as some say, "etched" in our mind.
On December 3rd of 1999, I was attending a community Christmas celebration in our town when beepers started to beep providing initial details about missing Firefighters in Worcester (MA)-and then more details-and then even more info and the final incredible details came out.
The Worcester Fire Department responded at 1813 hours that night to Box Alarm 1438 for a fire at 266 Franklin Street.(NOTE: 266 Franklin Street is now the the address and location of WFD’s E-6, E-12, L-1, R-1 and Scuba-1 quarters)
2 members of rescue 1, Firefighter Paul Brotherton and Firefighter Jerry Lucey, entered the building searching for occupants. Fire conditions worsened in the building at a rapid and unexpected rate. FF’s Brotherton and Lucey, on the fifth floor, became disoriented in the smoke-filled building. Lost, and running low on air, they called for help. Several crews began searching for the lost Firefighters. Two crews reaching the fifth floor also found themselves disoriented in the smoke and trapped by the maze of interior walls: Lieutenant Tom Spencer and Firefighter Tim Jackson from Ladder 2, and Firefighter Jay Lyons and Firefighter Joe McGuirk from Engine 3 were now trapped. Though many more highly heroic Worcester Firefighters attempted to locate their missing brothers, their efforts proved futile.
Be sure to read the link below, entitled "A Chiefs Perspective" about WFD District (Ret) Chief Mike McNamee, who made the beyond difficult decision to end search operations for the missing members-and saved more lives by doing so.
The Line of Duty Deaths of Worcester Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Timothy P. Jackson, Jeremiah M. Lucey, James F. "Jay" Lyons III, Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lt. Thomas E. Spencer devastated Worcester, the Fire service, the nation and the world. Their Line of Duty deaths marked the worst loss of Firefighters’ lives in more than 20 years in a building fire in America, and the third worst fire in Massachusetts’ history. R.I.P.
WORCESTER REPORTS & LINKS:
HERE is the USFA report as well as the "must read" Esquire Magazine/Sean Flynn article:
http://www.esquire.com/features/perfect-fire-0700?click=main_sr (Esquire Magazine)
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-134.pdf (USFA Report on the fire)
HERE are links that we hope will be of value and interest to you and YOUR members:
Excellent Collection of Stories, Photos, Audio: http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/
A Chiefs Perspective: http://www.telegram.com/article/20091129/NEWS/911290432/1052
X Marks The Spot: http://www.telegram.com/article/20091130/NEWS/911300384/0/news06
Photos: http://www.pbase.com/tomcarmody/wor
Photos: http://www.capecodfd.com/PAGES%20Special/Worc1.htm
WFD Sites: http://www.iaff1009.org/index.cfm http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/fire
