DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/3/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Information
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 44 West Riverside
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201
NARRATIVE: Ten years ago today, our Nation's Fire Service suffered one of the worst loss of firefighters in our history. On Friday night, December 3, 1999 the Worcester, Massachusetts Cold Storage building caught fire when homeless people living in the building knocked over a candle. The fire consumed the vacant building which was solid brick, boarded up without any natural ventilation. The construction combination under fire conditions turned the building into a lethal furnace. Unfortunately, a witness thought people may be trapped in the building and Worcester Firefighters into the building. Six of those Firefighters did not return. The fire burned on for several days and eventually the Firefighters' remains were recovered, and some were in ashes. The building is now leveled and the site memorialized in history.
Senator Kennedy spoke to the families and community during the Memorial and stated, ".In these agonizing days, we draw strength from the message of hope they left behind. On the honor roll of heroes, these six deserve the highest laurels. In our quest to teach our children about character, we can point to each of them -- their self-sacrifice, their commitment, their faith, and their willingness to brave the odds. They will always be an example and a byword - individuals from every part of this community who risked it all to protect the least fortunate among us."
In the course of reviewing the disaster, the Fire Service has made incredible improvements. From this tragic event the Fire Service LEARNED. Specifically, we gained a heightened awareness and understanding of Incident Risk Management, Revised Existing Building/Fire Codes , Firefighter Accountability and Forced Vendors and Trainers to Develop New Training and Technology to Promote Firefighter Safety.
The Fire Service values a traditional phrase, "May They Not Be Forgotten" when we lose brothers or sisters in the Line of Duty. In the case of the Worcester Six, the term resonates each time we think about Risk Management, Rapid Intervention, Building Construction and Decision Making.
Today, the SFD and Nation's Fire Service remembers and reinforces the lessons learned on that day, ten years ago so their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
PROBABLE CAUSE: N/A
DAMAGE EXTENT: N/A
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE:
MUTUAL AID: None Given
For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com
END OF RELEASE
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