BOSTON — Boston fire officials were set to hold a moment of silence Sunday for two firefighters killed in an infamous Back Bay fire.
Three years ago, Lt. Edward Walsh, 43, and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33, died while battling a fire in a Back Bay brownstone on Beacon Street.
The firefighters were caught in the basement after sparks from a nearby welding operation set the building aflame amidst high winds.
A federal report said that the firefighters did not have the training or supplies needed to fight the raging fire. There was 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.
>> READ THE BOSTON FIRE BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORT HERE
Due to staffing issues, firefighters needed to be split in order to rescue residents, according to the report. A hose couldn’t be stretched from a hydrant due to the staffing issues as well.
Since the firefighters’ deaths, the Boston Fire Commissioner said that many of the recommendations have been put in place.
Increased training has also 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.
Walsh left behind a wife and three children. After his death, the Boston Globe described Walsh as a tall, athletic man who was remembered for his sense of humor. Walsh’s family lived in West Roxbury where he would play basketball at the Holy Name Parish School.
Kennedy was a single Marine Corps veteran, described as having a fun spirit and being a jokester, Kennedy also dedicated his time towards the local community. He spent time volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and traveled with a Boston Fire Department contingent to support a 6-year-old boy with leukemia in Rhode Island.
The Lieutenant Walsh-Firefighter Kennedy Memorial Fund was set up for the firefighters’ families by the Boston Firefighters Credit Union. Memorial plaques were also placed by Engine 33/Ladder 15 to honor the public servants.
The wife of Lt. Walsh and the mother of Firefighter Kennedy told FOX25 they hope the recommendations have been taken into account.
Cox Media Group
