Worcester Fire Department

{{Short description|Fire department in Massachusetts, USA}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox fire department | name =Worcester Fire Department | native_name = | logo =WorcesterFireDepartmentLogo.jpg | logo_alt = | logo_size = | motto =  | country = {{USA}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Massachusetts}} | subdivision_type2 = City | subdivision_name2 ={{flagicon image|Flag_of_Worcester,_Massachusetts.svg}} Worcester  | reference1 = <ref name=budget>{{cite web|last1=O’Brien|first1=Michael|title=Fiscal 2013 Annual Budget|url=http://www.worcesterma.gov/uploads/5b/08/5b08205ff5771828423412bc99a79868/budget-fy13.pdf|publisher=City or Worcester|accessdate=27 March 2015}}</ref> | established = {{Start date|1835|02|25|df=y}} | annual calls = | annual budget = $33,940,872 {{small|(2013)}} | employees = 424 {{small|(2013)}} | staffing = Career | chief = Michael Lavoie | BLSorALS = BLS | iaff = 1009  | reference2 = <ref name=stations>{{cite web|title=Stations|url=http://www.worcesterma.gov/fire/stations|website=Worcester Fire Department|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=IAFF-Stations>{{cite web|title=Stations|url=http://www.iaff1009.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Stations|website=IAFF 1009|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref> | divisions = 2 | battalions = | stations = 10 | engines = 13 | trucks = 5 | quints = | tillers = 2 | squads = | rescues = 1 | ambulances = | tenders = | hazmat = 1 | forestry = | usar = | crash = | wildland = | bulldozers = | airplanes = | helicopters = | fireboats = | rescue boats = 1  | website ={{Official website|http://www.worcesterma.gov/fire}} | iaffweb ={{URL|http://www.iaff1009.org/|IAFF website}} }} The '''Worcester Fire Department (WFD)''' provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.<ref name=about>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.worcesterma.gov/fire|website=Worcester MA Fire Department|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref> The department serves an area of {{convert|39|sqmi|sqkm}} with a population of 183,000 residents.<ref name=about/>

== Notable incidents ==

===Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire === {{Main|Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire}} On December 3, 1999, six firefighters were killed at the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDowell|first1=Thomas|title=Six Career Fire Fighters Killed in Cold-Storage and Warehouse Building Fire - Massachusetts|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face9947.html|website=Division of Respiratory Disease Studies|accessdate=30 March 2015}}</ref> The fire occurred at 6:13 p.m. in an abandoned cold storage warehouse at Box 1438, 266 Franklin Street. Six Worcester firefighters died while looking for two homeless victims thought to be trapped in the blaze.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abandoned Cold Storage Warehouse MultiFirefighter Fatality Fire|url=http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-134.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030906214359/http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-134.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2003|website=FEMA|publisher=Homeland Security|accessdate=30 March 2015|date=December 1999}}</ref> The fire went to five alarms and took six days to bring under control. Those killed were: *Lieutenant Thomas Spencer, 42, Ladder 2 *Firefighter Paul Brotherton, 41, Rescue 1 *Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey, 38, Rescue 1 *Firefighter Timothy Jackson, 51, Ladder 2 *Firefighter James Lyons, 34, Engine 3 *Firefighter Joseph McGuirk, 38, Engine 3 Services for the firefighters were held in the DCU Center (then called Worcester's Centrum Centre). The funeral procession was broadcast on several national news networks and was attended by President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator John Kerry (who flew non-stop from Burma, where he had been attending a diplomatic function).<ref>{{cite news|last=Jarvey|first=Paul|title=Words are not enough|url=http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/procession.html|accessdate=6 January 2014|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=9 December 1999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520212955/http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/procession.html|archivedate=20 May 2011}}</ref> Also in the procession were firefighters from around the United States, Canada, and from Dublin, Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|last=Astell|first=Emilie|title=From president to residents, 25,000 expected at tribute|url=http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/protocol.html|accessdate=6 January 2014|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=8 December 1999|author2=Shaun Sutner|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730215650/http://www.telegram.com/static/fire/protocol.html|archivedate=30 July 2007}}</ref>

Because his cousin, FF. Lucey, and high school friend, Lt. Spencer were killed in the fire, actor/comedian Denis Leary, a Worcester native, started the Leary Firefighters Foundation in 2000 to give aid and support to many fire departments, particularly those suffering from budget shortfalls by providing them with new equipment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foundation History|url=http://www.learyfirefighters.org/about/foundation-history/|publisher=The Leary Firefighters Foundation|accessdate=6 January 2014}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Firefighting in Worcester, Massachusetts}} * [http://www.worcesterma.gov/fire Official Website] * [http://www.iaff1009.org/ IAFF Local 1009 - Worcester Firefighter's Union] * [https://www.firehero.org/search-results/?meta_first_name=&meta_last_name=&tax_department=worcester-fire-department&tax_state=massachusetts&meta_year_of_death=1999&wpas=1 Worcester 6 Memorial Website] * [http://box4canteen.org/ Box 4 Special Services Canteen Association]

Category:Fire departments in Massachusetts Fire