Remember the Worcester 6: 12 Years Later

December 2, 2011 – December 3, 1999, is a date no fire fighter will ever forget. That’s the day six Worcester, MA Local 1009 fire fighters were lost in the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire.

On the 12th anniversary of this horrific fire, the IAFF and its members will remember the names of each of the six – Brothers Paul Brotherton, Jeremiah Lucey, Joseph McGuirk, Timothy Jackson Sr., Thomas Spencer and James Lyons III.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been 12 years since we lost those six,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “No matter how many years pass, their passing will always be a heavy weight to bear.”

The 1999 fire started when two homeless people knocked over a candle. As the blaze grew to five-alarm status, Worcester and neighboring fire companies were called to respond. When fire fighters arrived, the homeless people were thought to still be inside.

Complicating their efforts was the building’s structure: it was windowless with thick walls designed to maintain cold temperatures. But, on the day of the fire, the building held in the heat and smoke.

Fire fighters inside the warehouse made repeated mayday calls and activated audible location alarms. However, Brotherton, Jackson, Lucey, Lyons, McGuirk and Spencer perished. It took eight days to recover them.

After the fire investigation was complete, the building was demolished and the lot left vacant. After Worcester’s former central fire station was usurped for development purposes, a new central fire station – dubbed the Franklin Street station – was dedicated and became fully operational in November 2008.

A permanent memorial for the fallen six is being built in Worcester. Click here for more information.