BOSTON — On March 26, 2014, a fire on Beacon Street killed Lieutenant Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy. Thirteen other firefighters were injured.
>> READ THE NIOSH REPORT HERE
>> READ THE BOSTON FIRE BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORT HERE
The fire was
. Boston fire officials believed the welders sparked the fire that, on a wind-whipping day, quickly engulfed the brownstone.
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WHAT WENT WRONG?
According to a new federal report, the firefighters didn't have the training or supplies they needed to fight the raging fire.
The report points to a lack of training to fight fires in high winds, inadequate fire department staffing, and failure to adequately assess risk. The report also mentions uncontrolled ventilation, lack of fire hydrants on a private street, and the absence of a sprinkler system.
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One part of the report claims a hose couldn't be stretched from a hydrant due to a lack of staffing. The report claims the staffing issue also meant the first crews needed to rescue residents, causing teams of firefighters to be split.
The report also noted open doors and a basement window allowed for the fire to spread quickly, trapping the firefighters inside.
>> MORE: Boston firefighters killed in Back Bay fire receive Medals of Valor
The report goes on to recommend training and tactics for wind-driven fires, adequate staffing, and an annual back to basics training program.
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>>HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit the Last Call Foundation's website
BOSTON FIRE RESPONSE
Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph Finn reached many of the same conclusions listed in the report and said many of the recommendations have been put in place in the 18 months since they lost two of their own.
"We have laser focus on the health and safety of our firefighters," he said.
Finn said they've done more training in the last 18 months than they had done 10 years prior.
Training has focused on scene risk assessment and fire behavior, especially in extremely windy conditions. The department has even retrofitted floors of the academy to recreate conditions from the beacon street blaze.
Commissioner Finn said years of inadequate funding during the Menino administration created staffing and training shortfalls.
FAMILY'S RESPONSE TO THE REPORT
Kristen Walsh, the wife of Lt. Walsh, and Kathy Crosby Bell, the mother of Firefighter Kennedy, said they hope the recommendations are taken into account.
"My hope is that we honor Ed's sacrifice by making sure that our firefighters are protected on the job," Kristen Walsh said in a statement.
"Ultimately, I hope this reminds all Bostonians of the critical need to ensure the safety of our firefighters who put their lives on the line for each one of us every day," Kathy Crosby Bell said.
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Full statement of Kristen Walsh:
"I would like to thank the Boston Fire Department's Board of Inquiry and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for their thorough investigation of the Back Bay fire that took the life of my husband Ed and Fire Fighter Michael Kennedy. The NIOSH fire fighter fatality investigation confirmed what we already knew; that heroic efforts were taken that day and that civilian lives were saved.
When told that someone was in one of the basement apartments, Ed and Michael did what they were trained to do. They went into the basement to perform a search and to find the source of the fire. Their bravery and dedication to the job gave them the courage to go into a situation that most would avoid. And while Ed would tell you that he was just doing his job, to our family he will always be a hero. For the sacrifice that he made on 3/26/14, but also for the person he was outside of the fire department. A loving husband, father, son and brother, Ed was someone who was always there for his friends and family. My hope is that we honor Ed's sacrifice by making sure that our Fire Fighters are protected on the job. That the recommendations in the report are put into action so that there is proper staffing in place and that changes are made to the fire attack hose so that thermal degradation is not a problem at future fires.
We owe it to Ed, Michael Kennedy and all of the fire fighters on scene that day to make sure that the City never has to face a tragic fire like this again."
Full statement of Kathy Crosby Bell:
"Earlier this week, I learned the outcome of NIOSH's investigation into the tragic fire that claimed the life of my son, Firefighter Michael Kennedy, and Lt. Edward Walsh nearly two years ago.
It was a tragic event that profoundly affected -- and continues to affect -- the lives of so many, it is my hope that these findings can help ensure that something like this never happens again.
In my opinion, the long history of inadequate funding by the previous administration to the fire department played a role in this tragedy. The ongoing lack of funding across the country for the fire service must be remedied in order to enable many of the NIOSH suggested implementations.
And in particular please note recommendation number 15. Today's thermal technologies must be adapted to fire attack hoses immediately. According to the WPI Fire Engineering Program, fire attack hoses have had no thermal improvements in 100 years.
Ultimately, I hope this reminds all Bostonians of the critical need to ensure the safety of our firefighters who put their lives on the line for each one of us every day."
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