An emotional evening in Worcester marked the 25th anniversary of the deadly cold storage fire that claimed the lives of six Worcester firefighters.
Hundreds lined Franklin Street Tuesday evening for a special procession — the same street where firefighters rushed into the Cold Storage and Warehouse building on Dec. 3, 1999.
Lieutenants Thomas Spencer and James Lyons and firefighters Timothy Jackson, Paul Brotherton, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph McGuirk, known as the “Worcester 6,” died while fighting the fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building. on December 3, 1999.
The six fallen firefighters died while searching for homeless people believed to be trapped in the inferno at the abandoned warehouse at 266 Franklin Street.
“These men have been missed from the big moments like weddings, graduations and birthdays and the small moments like bedtime, football games and family dinners,” said Eric Batista, Worcester City Manager. “Their children, most of whom were barely teenagers or younger when the fire struck, now have children of their own.”
The Franklin Street Fire Station now stands at the site of that deadly blaze – where city leaders and firefighters laid a wreath for each life lost.
The memory still haunts those who responded that day – like retired District Supervisor Robert DeFusco.
“Even then, they didn’t stop for a second, no one backed up, they literally crawled over each other to get in,” Robert DeFusco said.
“The memories you have of it are all about love because that’s what we did as firefighters,” said retired firefighter Jack Toney.
Firefighters were moved to tears as they relived that horrific day, but were also grateful for all the love and support they received from across the country.
“It brings back good and bad memories, the most difficult time we have ever experienced in the department and the way the community and country supported us was overwhelming and humbling,” said retired Lt. Brian Corrigan.
The Worcester Fire Chief says the memory of these firefighters lives on every day in this firehouse and because of the fire, training for firefighters across the country has changed.
A pop-up exhibition will be on display Monday through Wednesday at Union Station at 2 Washington Square.
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