#worcester 6

I can’t believe how quickly time has flown, rest easy brothers.

13 years ago today the city of Worcester lost 6 brave souls. My family basically built the Worcester Fire Department when it was first established, and do this day the department is mostly comprised of my cousins and uncles and various other family members. On this day 13 years ago, it started out like any other day, I was only 5 years old. I went to karate and had a great time. Stopped at McDonald's on the way home as a reward for getting another stripe on my belt. Once at home again, I settled down to do the normal duties of a 5 year old in 1999: I took out my pokemon and tamagochi and went to town. 

Then the phone rang, and my mum went to answer. Within a breath I could tell whatever was on the other end was not good. She hung up quickly, but held the phone in her hand dialing another number, yelling to me to turn on channel 7. The TV changed drastically as the screen was drowned in red and orange. I heard my mum on the phone with my dad 

"Aunt Sis just called, there's a bad fire down at the warehouse. Joey's engine is there...but they can't find Joey"

6 brave men were lost that day. 

Paul Brotherton

Lieutenant Jeremiah Lucey

Lieutenant Thomas Spencer

Timothy Jackson

James Lyons

Joseph McGuirk

Joey McGuirk was my cousin. My mum had Jay Lyons' dad as a teacher back in high school. All these men went to my church. For the next week, we wore only black. We'd go to a wake at night, funeral in the morning, wake that same night, funeral the next morning. It was like that for a week. I remember even President Bill Clinton came to Worcester and attended services. 

So here's how it happened: There was an old cold storage warehouse that had been abandoned, a homeless, mentally disabled couple had taken refuge in that warehouse that cold December night. They had lit a candle and knocked it over into a pile of clothes. When it started a fire, they got scared and ran away while it wasn't too bad. The diner owner across the street noticed the fire, as it had grown, and called 911. He had seen the couple in there so when a policeman had asked if anyone was in there, he said yes. Firefighters went in looking, found no one, and became lost on the 4th floor. More firefighters were sent in to find their missing brothers, and they too became lost in the fire and smoke. 

TimeIncident6:13PMThe first alarm was dispatched.6:14PMEngine 1 arrived on location reporting they had heavy smoke showing.6:17PMCar 3 requests the 2nd alarm be struck.6:20PMLadder 1 reported fire on the second floor, and had multiple 2-1/2" lines being put in service for the suppression efforts.6:24PMFire alarm tells command that they have a report that a citizen told a police officer that "may be two people that live in that building."6:32PMCar 3 asks Rescue 1 if they've checked on the rumor of the two homeless people. Rescue 1 reports they have made a preliminary search, and haven't found anyone.6:40PMCar 2 requests the 3rd alarm be struck.6:46PMRescue 1 reports to command that they are lost on the fourth floor and they are running out of air.6:47PMRescue 1 calls Fire Alarm asking them to clear the air, and they have an emergency.6:47PMThe Fire Alarm dispatcher sounds the alert tones.6:52PMCar 2 requests the 4th alarm be struck and Chief Budd be notified.6:53PMCar 3 directs Rescue 1 to activate the PASS devices to aid the other companies in locating them.6:55PM"They are activated," referring to the PASS devices. This is the last audible transmission from Rescue 1.7:04PMLadder 2/Portable 2 asks Portable 1 his location. Portable 1 replies "Good question." They are now lost with Engine 3 on the fifth floor.7:08PMLadder 2 requests for the Chief to send a crew to the stairwell and yell, so they can find it. They also report they are running low on air.7:15PM"Ladder 2 to command we're done..." This is the last transmission of the four man search team from Ladder 2/Engine 3.7:26PMCar 1 requests the 5th alarm be struck.The Millbury Fire Department came on mutual aid to the scene. They brought a Thermal imaging camera with them. This was to be used in assisting the firefighters locate the missing firefighters.7:53PMCar 4 reports the thermal imager has stopped working.7:58PMCar 3 signals for all companies to evacuate the building.

My cousin Joey was the last to be found. The only way he was identified was by a gold filling in his tooth. 

My dad was at that fire. I was only 1, but I remember my mom holding me and looking out the window in her bedroom. We could see the fire from there.

One of the six could have easily been my dad.