Worcester

Worcester honors firefighters killed 25 years ago in the Cold Storage blaze

A group of six firefighters lost their lives looking for homeless people believed to be inside the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse building during a massive fire 25 years ago

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Hundreds of firefighters and loved ones gathered to remember the six firefighters who lost their lives in a warehouse fire in Worcester

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The Worcester community remembered a dark day in the city's history on Tuesday, 25 years after a massive warehouse fire that killed six firefighters.

On Dec. 3, 1999, six firefighters died in a horrific fire in the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse building on Franklin Street: Lt. Thomas Spencer, Lt. Timothy Jackson, Lt. James Lyons, Firefighter Paul Brotherton, Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey and Firefighter Joseph McGuirk.

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The group lost their lives looking for homeless people believed to be inside the burning warehouse.

The Worcester Fire Department and city officials gathered at the site of the fire, now the Franklin Street Fire Station, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. There, they held their annual remembrance ceremony, with the striking of a memorial box, the placing of a wreath in remembrance of each of the six firefighters and a 21-gun salute.

"These men have been missed at big moments, like weddings, graduations and birthdays, and small moments," City Manager Eric Batista said.

Tuesday marks 25 years since the Worcester Cold Storage fire that claimed the lives of six Worcester firefighters. The community will gather on Tuesday night at the scene of the deadly blaze to remember the Worcester 6. Follow NBC10 Boston: https://instagram.com/nbc10boston https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston

A pop-up exhibit is also on display inside Worcester's Union Station. The display is managed by retired firefighters and features the silhouettes of the six firefighters, along with photos and news clipping from the fire, and cards made by school children to send their sympathy to the Worcester Fire Department and the families of the fallen.

The moving exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday for the public to view and remember the lives.

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