December 3, 1999 Worcester Cold Storage Fire Box 5-1438
- Thread starter mack
- Start date
"The Worcester Six;
Firefighter Paul Brotherton Rescue 1
Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey Rescue 1
Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Ladder 2
Firefighter Timothy Jackson Ladder 2
Firefighter James Lyons Engine 3
Firefighter Joseph McGuirk Engine 3
Take a moment to reflect on the events of December 3, 1999 and what they may mean to you. Consider your knowledge and understanding of buildings and structures within your district and surrounding response areas. Remember; ?Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety?.
For those of you who do not know about this incident, attached is the USFA Incident Report that provides insights into the event and the lessons learned. Also check out the NIOSH Report and numerous archived articles on the web and within various journals.
Overview
On Friday, December 3, 1999, at 1813 hours, the Worcester, Massachusetts Fire Department dis?patched Box 1438 for 266 Franklin Street, the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. A motor?ist had spotted smoke coming from the roof while driving on an adjacent elevated highway. The original building was constructed in 1906, contained another 43,000 square feet. Both were 6 stories above grade. The building was known to be abandoned for over 10 years. Due to these and other factors, the responding District Chief ordered a second alarm within 4 minutes of the initial dispatch.
The first alarm assignment brought 30 firefighters and officers and 7 pieces of apparatus to the scene. The second provided an additional 12 men and 3 trucks as well as a Deputy Chief. Firefighters encountered a light smoke condition throughout the warehouse, and crews found a large fire in the former office area of the second floor. An aggressive interior attack was started within the second floor and ventilation was conducted on the roof. There were no windows or other openings in the warehousing space above the second floor.
Eleven minutes into the fire, the owner of the abutting Kenmore Diner advised fire operations of two homeless people who might be living in the warehouse. The rescue company, having divided into two crews, started a building search. Some 22 minutes later the rescue crew searching down from the roof became lost in the vast dark spaces of the fifth floor. They were running low on air and called for help. Interior conditions were deteriorating rapidly despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, and visibility was nearly lost on the upper floors.
Investigators have placed these two firefighters over 150 feet from the only available exit.
An extensive search was conducted by Worcester Fire crews through the third and fourth alarms. Suppression efforts continued to be ineffective against huge volumes of petroleum based materials, and ultimately two more crews became disoriented on the upper floors and were unable to escape. When the evacuation order was given one hour and forty-five minutes into the event, five firefighters and one officer were missing. None survived.
A subsequent exterior attack was set up and lasted for over 20 hours utilizing aerial pieces and del?uge guns from Worcester and neighboring departments. Task force groups from across the State of Massachusetts responded to initial suppression and subsequent recovery efforts. During this time, the four upper floors collapsed onto the second which became known as ?the deck?. Over 6 million gallons of water were used during the suppression efforts.
According to NFPA records, this is the first loss of six firefighters in a structure fire where neither building collapse nor an explosion was a contributing factor to the fatalities. (Excerpt from USFA report )"
href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9947.html">http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9947.html
From firefighternation.com Dec 2, 2009
Firefighter Paul Brotherton Rescue 1
Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey Rescue 1
Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Ladder 2
Firefighter Timothy Jackson Ladder 2
Firefighter James Lyons Engine 3
Firefighter Joseph McGuirk Engine 3
Take a moment to reflect on the events of December 3, 1999 and what they may mean to you. Consider your knowledge and understanding of buildings and structures within your district and surrounding response areas. Remember; ?Building Knowledge = Firefighter Safety?.
For those of you who do not know about this incident, attached is the USFA Incident Report that provides insights into the event and the lessons learned. Also check out the NIOSH Report and numerous archived articles on the web and within various journals.
Overview
On Friday, December 3, 1999, at 1813 hours, the Worcester, Massachusetts Fire Department dis?patched Box 1438 for 266 Franklin Street, the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. A motor?ist had spotted smoke coming from the roof while driving on an adjacent elevated highway. The original building was constructed in 1906, contained another 43,000 square feet. Both were 6 stories above grade. The building was known to be abandoned for over 10 years. Due to these and other factors, the responding District Chief ordered a second alarm within 4 minutes of the initial dispatch.
The first alarm assignment brought 30 firefighters and officers and 7 pieces of apparatus to the scene. The second provided an additional 12 men and 3 trucks as well as a Deputy Chief. Firefighters encountered a light smoke condition throughout the warehouse, and crews found a large fire in the former office area of the second floor. An aggressive interior attack was started within the second floor and ventilation was conducted on the roof. There were no windows or other openings in the warehousing space above the second floor.
Eleven minutes into the fire, the owner of the abutting Kenmore Diner advised fire operations of two homeless people who might be living in the warehouse. The rescue company, having divided into two crews, started a building search. Some 22 minutes later the rescue crew searching down from the roof became lost in the vast dark spaces of the fifth floor. They were running low on air and called for help. Interior conditions were deteriorating rapidly despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, and visibility was nearly lost on the upper floors.
Investigators have placed these two firefighters over 150 feet from the only available exit.
An extensive search was conducted by Worcester Fire crews through the third and fourth alarms. Suppression efforts continued to be ineffective against huge volumes of petroleum based materials, and ultimately two more crews became disoriented on the upper floors and were unable to escape. When the evacuation order was given one hour and forty-five minutes into the event, five firefighters and one officer were missing. None survived.
A subsequent exterior attack was set up and lasted for over 20 hours utilizing aerial pieces and del?uge guns from Worcester and neighboring departments. Task force groups from across the State of Massachusetts responded to initial suppression and subsequent recovery efforts. During this time, the four upper floors collapsed onto the second which became known as ?the deck?. Over 6 million gallons of water were used during the suppression efforts.
According to NFPA records, this is the first loss of six firefighters in a structure fire where neither building collapse nor an explosion was a contributing factor to the fatalities. (Excerpt from USFA report )"
href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9947.html">http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9947.html
From firefighternation.com Dec 2, 2009
Box 5-1438 Franklin and Artic St 236 Franklin St Downtown Worcester
1815 1st alarm E1,E6,E12,E13,L1,L5,R1,C3 Box struck - E1 reports smoke showing - Corrected address 266 Franklin St
1819 2nd alarm E2,E16,Aerial Scope2,C2
1842 3rd alarm E3,E7,L2,COD
1853 4th alarm E8,E15,L4
1929 5th alarm E5,E10
Staffing:
Engine 1 Captain 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 2 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters
Engine 3 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters (2 LODDs - assigned on 3rd alarm)
Engine 5 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 6 Lieutenant 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 7 Lieutenant 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 8 Captain 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 10 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 12 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 13 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 15 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 16 3 Fire Fighters
Ladder 1 Captain 4 Fire Fighters
Ladder 2 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters (assigned on 3rd alarm - 2 LODDs)
Ladder 4 Captain 2 Fire Fighters
Ladder 5 3 Fire Fighters
Aerial Scope 2 3 Fire Fighters
Rescue 1 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters (assigned on box - 2 LODDs)
Car 1 Chief of Dept) Chief
Car 2 Deputy Chief 1 Fire Fighter
Car 3 Deputy Chief 1 Fire Fighter
1815 1st alarm E1,E6,E12,E13,L1,L5,R1,C3 Box struck - E1 reports smoke showing - Corrected address 266 Franklin St
1819 2nd alarm E2,E16,Aerial Scope2,C2
1842 3rd alarm E3,E7,L2,COD
1853 4th alarm E8,E15,L4
1929 5th alarm E5,E10
Staffing:
Engine 1 Captain 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 2 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters
Engine 3 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters (2 LODDs - assigned on 3rd alarm)
Engine 5 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 6 Lieutenant 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 7 Lieutenant 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 8 Captain 2 Fire Fighters
Engine 10 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 12 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 13 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 15 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters
Engine 16 3 Fire Fighters
Ladder 1 Captain 4 Fire Fighters
Ladder 2 Lieutenant 3 Fire Fighters (assigned on 3rd alarm - 2 LODDs)
Ladder 4 Captain 2 Fire Fighters
Ladder 5 3 Fire Fighters
Aerial Scope 2 3 Fire Fighters
Rescue 1 Lieutenant 4 Fire Fighters (assigned on box - 2 LODDs)
Car 1 Chief of Dept) Chief
Car 2 Deputy Chief 1 Fire Fighter
Car 3 Deputy Chief 1 Fire Fighter
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I beleive Dennis Leary lost a relative at this job, which explains his contributions to the job. Bad day, a really bad day. I think Boston sent a rescue to cover the house.
Denis Leary lost his cousin, Jerry Lucey. Also a childhood friend, Tommy Spencer.
http://www.firehouse.com/article/10470599/denis-leary-reflections-on-worcester
http://www.firehouse.com/article/10470599/denis-leary-reflections-on-worcester
I remember the night of the fire, one of the guys at the firehouse (in Ct) had a buff pager. He told us that Worcester has a big job going and alot of guys were missing. Then we saw the news on the TV and they were showing live reports and saying that six Worcester firefighters were unaccounted for. I remember looking at that building and seeing very few openings. We all knew that things didn't look too good. It was a Cold Storage building lined with a type of corking material on the inside of the walls. People being interviewed by the news said that the flame from the roof looked like a blowtorch. By now the fire had been going for at least two hours. The next morning they announced the names of the six firefighters lost.
Worcester is about 60 miles from my home. I remember going up there about two days later. They were still trying to recover two of the missing members. I remember seeing a Search Team from Boston helping to locate these members. There was an Engine parked at the fire scene that had been completely covered with flowers that people had placed there.
A few days later, myself and a few of the guys from our dept went up to Worcester to attend the memorial service. On the way up there were signs saying "God Bless our Worcester Firefighters", "Thank you Firefighters" etc. As we marched in the memorial service, throughout the entire route there was complete silence. The Second largest city in Mass had come to a complete standstill. The entire city closed down. The people were lined up 5 and 6 deep, and you could hear a pin drop.
The last time I remember silence like that was for the funeral of President Kennedy who had been shot in Dallas.
Today, a new firehouse sits on the property where that Cold Storage building took the lives of those Six Worcester Firefighters. Two of the sons of these firefighters have now become Worcester Firefighters and have followed in their fathers footsteps.
December 3, 1999 will be a night that many will never forget what happened in Worcester, Mass.
May they Rest in Peace
Worcester is about 60 miles from my home. I remember going up there about two days later. They were still trying to recover two of the missing members. I remember seeing a Search Team from Boston helping to locate these members. There was an Engine parked at the fire scene that had been completely covered with flowers that people had placed there.
A few days later, myself and a few of the guys from our dept went up to Worcester to attend the memorial service. On the way up there were signs saying "God Bless our Worcester Firefighters", "Thank you Firefighters" etc. As we marched in the memorial service, throughout the entire route there was complete silence. The Second largest city in Mass had come to a complete standstill. The entire city closed down. The people were lined up 5 and 6 deep, and you could hear a pin drop.
The last time I remember silence like that was for the funeral of President Kennedy who had been shot in Dallas.
Today, a new firehouse sits on the property where that Cold Storage building took the lives of those Six Worcester Firefighters. Two of the sons of these firefighters have now become Worcester Firefighters and have followed in their fathers footsteps.
December 3, 1999 will be a night that many will never forget what happened in Worcester, Mass.
May they Rest in Peace