WORCESTER, MA – “No More.”
Those were the words spoken by Worcester Fire Chief Mike McNamee fifteen years ago today when he stood between 15 of his men and the burning Worcester Cold Storage building on Franklin Street. Chief McNamee knew that sending any more men into what had now become a furnace would ultimately lead to their death.
Six Worcester firefighters had lost their lives on December 3, 1999:
- Lt. Thomas E. Spencer (42)
- FF Timothy P. Jackson (51)
- FF Paul A. Brotherton (41)
- FF James F. Lyons (34)
- FF Jeremiah M. Lucey (38)
- FF Joseph T McGuirk (38)
While fifteen years have passed, those of us who were around that day and the days that followed remember it like it was yesterday. The news reports. The wakes. The memorial service. The funerals. We remember that a search was still being conducting for the last remaining firefighter when thousands of firefighters from around the world converged on the Worcester Centrum for the memorial service.
It is our charge to never forget the sacrifices made by those that came before us.
Only three current members of the Goshen Fire Department were firefighters back in 1999. To those of you who are new to the fire service, we invite you to click on the links below and learn more about what these firefighters and their families endured fifteen years ago tonight.
http://www.esquire.com/features/perfect-fire-0700
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-134.pdf
