September 7, 2007 – Tens of thousands of fire fighters, family and friends gathered in two Boston, Massachusetts, suburbs – West Roxbury and Dorchester – to pay their last respects to two fallen Boston Local 718 fire fighters. Paul Cahill and Warren Payne made the ultimate sacrifice on August 29 responding to a restaurant fire.

Cahill was honored in true fire fighter tradition September 6 as his casket was escorted to the Holy Name Church in West Roxbury by his engine company – Engine 30. He was remembered by some as a husband, father of three and a friend. But, fellow fire fighters remembered him as the kind of fire fighter that every fire fighter strove to be.

Speaking at the services, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said, “Paul J. Cahill was known as one of the best. He was respected on the job. His crew in West Roxbury at Engine 30/Ladder 25 knew him as the guy you would easily go down a charged hallway with. There’s no higher compliment that can be paid to someone serving in his profession than those he worked with that referred to him as a ‘Firemen’s Fireman.’ While he came to be a fire fighter later in his life, he came to it because it was where he belonged.”

Much of the same high praise was extended to Warren Payne of Ladder 25 as he was remembered on September 7 at the United Church of Prayer for All People in Dorchester. Payne had worked many jobs before becoming a certified medical technician. In 1988, he became a fire fighter and served on Ladder 25 for 19 years. It was there that he became known for his honor and courage.

“While I didn’t have the honor of knowing Warren personally, I know being a father and a fire fighter wasn’t just his job, it was his calling,” said Schaitberger. “He did it without hesitation because he was known to have a humble confidence that enabled him to live his life in the service of others, while not purposely or selfishly calling attention to his own noble deeds.”

Cahill and Payne were among the first to respond to a Chinese restaurant fire on August 29. Intense heat and smoke inside the restaurant created backdraft conditions which killed the two fire fighters and injured several others.

Both Cahill and Payne were awarded the IAFF Medal of Honor, which is given to members who die in the line-of-duty as a tangible reminder of the sacrifice and unity among fire fighters. Their names will also be inscribed on the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado, next year.

Cahill is survived by his wife, Anne, and his children Brendan, Adam and Shauna. Payne is survived by his sons Johnathan and Jeremy.

Local 718 has established a fund to assist the families. Donations can be sent to:

West Roxbury Firefighter's Fund
Boston Firefighter's Credit Union
60 Hallet Street
Boston, MA 02124