Two Boston Fire Fighters Killed in Restaurant Fire

Paul Cahill

September 4, 2007 – The IAFF is mourning the deaths of two Boston fire fighters killed August 29 while operating at a restaurant fire that also injured 12 other fire fighters.

Paul Cahill, 55 of Engine 30, and Warren Payne, 53 of Ladder 25, – the first units to respond – were buried when the three-ton air conditioner fell in from the roof. Both were 25-year veterans in the department.

“On behalf of the IAFF Executive Board and our 281,000 members, our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of our fallen brothers and to our members of Local 718,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “It's a terrible, terrible tragedy.”

According to the Boston Fire Department, five Boston fire fighters have died during or after fires since 1994. The August 29 fire came less than two weeks after two fire fighters were killed in New York near Ground Zero.

“Our prayers and assistance are extended to the families of our fallen brothers,” says IAFF 3rd District Vice President Michael Mullane. “This is a dangerous job, and these fire fighters answered the call.”

Ed Kelly, president of Boston, MA Local 718, told the Boston Globe, “We lost two brothers, two brave men who went to work tonight to provide for their families and are not going home. We ask you to pray for their souls and for the brave and injured fire fighters who are struggling to recover right now."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire fighter and public viewing for Brother Cahill will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Holy Name Catholic Church, 1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts 02132; Phone: (617) 325-4865. The funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church.

The viewing and funeral service for Brother Payne will be held on Friday, September 7, 2007 at the United Church of Prayer for All People, 206 Seaver Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts 02128, (617) 442 -0105. The viewing will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and the funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the church.

All members attending the funerals are asked to report for both funerals to the Bayside Expo Center, 200 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts. You can access the Bayside parking off of Route 93 south & north by taking Exit 15. MBTA buses will transport all members to the church and following the service to IAFF Local 718’s Florian Hall for a collation. Buses will be shuttling members from Florian Hall during the collation back to Bayside every 30 minutes. Please be aware that parking will not be available at Florian Hall. The parking area at Florian will be used for the families and for collation tents.

Any fire fighter arriving at Boston-Logan International Airport to attend the funerals can call Massport Fire Rescue Headquarters at 617-561-1900 for a pick up at their terminal. Massport Fire Fighters, IAFF Local S-2 will be in the terminals to assist all visitors all week. Shuttle buses will be provided to transport arriving fire department members from the terminals to Massport Fire Rescue Headquarters, 162 Harborside Drive, Boston, Massachusetts. Refreshments will be served. Buses will then be available to transport fire department members to their hotels or to the Bayside Expo Center.

Local 718 is working with all hotels within the city, which are offering substantial room discounts. Click here for a list of hotels and rates which the Boston hotel community has arranged for fire fighters attending the line-of-duty death services for Brothers Cahill and Payne next. These rates are on a space-available basis.

The IAFF and Boston Local 718 thank these hotels, as well as Richard M. Kelleher, chairman and CEO of the Pyramid Hotel Group. Kelleher assisted with the arrangements for these rates and in doing so told Ed Kelly, president of Local 718, "By offering these rooms, the Boston hotelierswant to show the fire fighters of the City of Boston and around the country the respect and appreciation we have for the sacrifices they make for all of us, each and every day. You are our neighbors, our friends and our heroes.”

This and additional information will be provided and maintained on the IAFF web site and Local 718 web site.

Latest News

August 31: Restaurant Fire Update (NPR)

August 31: BFD searches for 3 workers who fled scene (Boston Herald)
 
August 31: Fire site had code violations (Boston Globe)

August 31: He died doing a favor (Boston Herald)