December a cruel month in Worcester

In a month which is suppose to be filled with holiday joy, filled with lights and candles, presents and food regardless of your religion and belief the month of December has not been kind to the men and women of the Worcester Fire Department and their families!

Nineteen years ago on December 3rd, 1999 at 266 Franklin Street 6 members of the Worcester Fire Department; Lt. Spencer, FF Brotherton, FF Jackson, FF Lucey, FF Lyons (posthumous promoted to Lt.), FF McGuirk; lost their lives in a massive blaze which the rest of the world come to know as the cold storage warehouse fire.

Although separated by years Worcester would be hit with another tragic day just days after the memorial to the 6.

In the wee hours of December 9th, 2018 the men and women of Worcester FD would don their gear, jump on the rigs and race to yet another fire. When companies arrived they found they had a fire in a large wooden duplex style building And Just as the cold storage fire, this one would begin to grow fast and travel the building. Crews did what they where trained to do, they grab their tools and went in!

Unfortunately, just as in the cold storage warehouse fire not all would come out alive.

As crews battled the flames several members became trapped on the upper floors and initiated a mayday, members of the RIT team executed a rescue of those members over ladders; however; Firefighter Christopher Roy would ultimately loss his life in the battle.

My Gob bless you FF Roy, may he provide comfort to your family.