23 years later, the Worcester Six are remembered

WORCESTER, Mass. — The images of December 3, 1999 are seared into the collective memory of Worcester.

The Worcester Cold Storage Fire and the Worcester Six.

Six firefighters who answered the call that night never came home.

“This is a tough time of year for Worcester firefighters, especially the families of our fallen brothers. The years go by, but the end result is the same,” Terry Baudin, Vice President of Worcester Firefighters Union 1009 said.

We spoke at the impressive permanent memorial for the Worcester Six

“It’s a very dangerous job. It’s a service that’s needed and we’re proud to serve the citizens of Worcester.”

The Franklin Street Fire Station in Worcester was built on the site of the Worcester Cold Storage Fire. And the children of two of the Worcester Six, work there right now.

“The fire service is a great tradition, and even in the worst of times you can realize the value of what we do for the public going forward, especially for children deciding to follow in their fallen father’s footsteps,” Baudin said.

The names of the Worcester Six: Lt. Thomas Spencer, Firefighter Paul Brotherton, Lt. Timothy Jackson, Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey,  Lt. James Lyons and Firefighter Joseph McGuirk are etched into this monument and into the soul of Worcester.

“Why should we still remember the Worcester Six?” I asked Baudin.

“Number one, what they did that night. Who they did it for. And why they did it,” Baudin said.

It’s a legacy that lives in Worcester every time a firefighter answers a call.

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