New Worcester, Mass. Station to be Built on Site of Tragic Blaze

[BIGRED1 71]

From Firehouse.com

New Worcester, Mass. Station to be Built on Site of Tragic Blaze

Six firefighters died in a 1999 warehouse blaze

............

SHAUN SUTNER

TELEGRAM & GAZETTE (Massachusetts)

A century ago, it was a meat-packing warehouse.

Industrial operations at the giant brick building ceased in the early 1980s, and the building stood vacant for nearly two decades. Then disaster struck.

On Dec. 3, 1999, the building became an inferno that consumed the lives of six city firefighters: Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Jeremiah M. Lucey and Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lts. Timothy P. Jackson Sr., Thomas E. Spencer and James F. "Jay" Lyons III.

For the last eight years, the empty lot endured, with makeshift remembrances of the men who died adorning the chain-link fence that enclosed it.

Now, finally, after years of lobbying and planning, the site - just below busy Interstate 290 a few blocks from downtown - that once housed the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building is being turned into a new fire station that will also serve as a lasting memorial to the six firefighters.

Yesterday, fire and city officials and politicians clustered at the 254 Franklin St. property for an official groundbreaking as construction workers laid the foundation for the $6 million station.

Work actually began Sept. 7, and is expected to be complete in spring 2009. The project is being financed with $2 million from the state and about $1 million from the sale of the old Central Street fire station, where a hotel has been built. The Brown Square fire station up the hill on Plantation Street also will close when the Franklin Street station opens.

Among the several dozen onlookers was James F. Lyons Jr., father of Lt. Lyons;

his wife, Joan; and their daughter, Kathryn M. Wunschel (SEE CORRECTION) of Auburn.

Mr. Lyons, a retired junior high school teacher, said he had intense feelings as he watched construction workers lay the foundation for the new station on this crisp late fall morning.

"We're pleased that this is a part of our son's legacy, and we hope this will bring more public safety to Worcester," Mr. Lyons said. "This station comes at a terrible cost. Six young men gave up all their tomorrows so we could be here today."

The ceremony lasted about 45 minutes. It featured some emotional statements about the firefighters' sacrifice, including one from City Manager Michael V. O'Brien.

"We will carry them in our hearts, never to be forgotten," Mr. O'Brien said.

Other family members of the dead firefighters were also on hand, including three sons of Firefighter Paul A. Brotherton, and Mary Jackson, the widow of Lt. Jackson.

The three strapping Brotherton brothers, Steven, 18, Brian, 21, and Michael, 22, have wanted to become firefighters since they were young boys. Now they are all headed for firefighting careers.

Steven, who has been a volunteer firefighter in Auburn while attending Anna Maria College, wants to join the Worcester Fire Department after he graduates from school.

His two older brothers are getting ready to go through firefighter recruit training, which starts Feb. 1. When they complete the fire academy, they will join the Worcester force.

"We are very, very ecstatic about it," Michael said.

Brian said the busy construction crew and the signs of life at the long empty lot were hopeful signs, though he and his brother don't know if they'll get to work there.

"It looks a lot better now, but we won't have a choice where we go," he said.

The keynote speaker at the groundbreaking, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, was the city's mayor at the time of the fire. (SEE CORRECTION) Many credit him with spearheading the fund drive that resulted in the new building.

"It is unbelievable to see this," Mr. Murray said in a conversation before the ceremony, which ended with him and the other officials picking up gold-colored shovels and pitching mounds of fresh dirt into the muddy earth.

"It's important for the families and for the whole community," the lieutenant governor continued. "When you think of what happened that day, it shouldn't be forgotten. And it won't be, because of something like this."

[Future Fireman 4]

Just saw this topic, and thought I would provide some additional info.

Units moving into station when it opens:

Engine 6 (former firehouse WILL close)

Ladder 1 (1999 KME Tower will be switched with the 2006 Smeal RM)

Rescue 1 (actually not sure, only know it was planned to go there, I have no other info on it)

This station was to be a new headquarters to relieve the stress on the current HQ on Grove St. Plan was to have administrative offices and Cars 1,2, and 3 there. However, due to a tight budget, it isn't coming to fruitition, although administrative offices are moving there when it opens.

Mike