WORCESTER – A somber ceremony will be held Tuesday to mark 25 years since six firefighters died in the massive disaster. Worcester cold storage and warehouse fire.
Lt. Thomas Spencer, Lt. Timothy Jackson Sr., Lt. James Lyons III and firefighters Jeremiah Lucey, Paul Brotherton and Joseph McGuirk were trapped in the fire and died on December 3, 1999.
According to investigators, the fire was started by two homeless people.
Worcester cold storage and warehouse burning ceremony
A ceremony open to the public will take place on Tuesday at 6 p.m
The ceremony will be held at the Worcester Fire Department station at 266 Franklin Street, which was built on the site of the fire in 2008.
As part of the vigil, a moment of silence will be held at 6:13 p.m. At that moment the first alarm sounded when the fire started.
There will also be wreaths laid in memory of each firefighter, and there will be a 21-gun salute.
Pop-up exhibition fallen firefighters
A pop-up exhibition honoring the fallen firefighters opened Monday at Union Station in Washington Square. On Tuesdays it is open until 6:00 PM and again on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Retired firefighters curate the exhibit, which tells the story of each firefighter.
Lucey was the cousin of actor Denis Leary. Leary, a native of Worcester, also grew up with Spencer.
Inspired by the firefighters’ deaths, the actor founded the Leary Firefighters Foundation, which raises money and resources for departments across the country.
