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