Worcester Fire Department

The Worcester Fire Department (WFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.[4] The department serves an area of 39 square miles (100 km2) with a population of 183,000 residents.[4]

Worcester Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State Massachusetts
City Worcester
Agency overview[1]
Established25 February 1835 (1835-02-25)
Employees424 (2013)
Annual budget$33,940,872 (2013)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefMichael Lavoie
EMS levelBLS
IAFF1009
Facilities and equipment[2][3]
Divisions2
Stations10
Engines13
Trucks5
Tillers2
Rescues1
HAZMAT1
Rescue boats1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

Stations and Apparatus

Below is a complete listing of all WFD fire station locations and fire companies in the city of Worcester according to District. The Southbridge, Grove Street and Franklin Fire Stations have 2 Engine Companies. Ladder Truck 2 and Ladder Truck 5 are Tiller Ladder Trucks. Ladder Truck 3 and Ladder Truck 7 are Tower Ladder Trucks. Ladder Trucks 4, 1, and 6 are Regular Aerial trucks.

Station Address Engine Companies Ladder Truck Company Special Unit Car Unit (Chief) District
Southbridge Fire Station 180 Southbridge St.Engine 2, Engine 13Tower Ladder Truck 3Car 4(South District Battalion Chief)South District
Grove Street Fire Station 141 Grove St.Engine 3, Engine 16Ladder Truck 2(tiller)Car 2(Deputy Chief), Car 3(North District Battalion Chief), Car 6(Safety Chief)North District
Park Fire Station 424 Park Ave.Engine 4Tower Ladder Truck 7South District
Webster Square Fire Station 40 Webster St.Engine 5Ladder Truck 4Special Operations 1, Air Cascade 1Car 10 (Special Operations Chief)South District
Franklin Fire Station 266 Franklin St.Engine 6, Engine 12Ladder Truck 1Rescue 1, SCUBA 1North District
Grafton Fire Station 745 Grafton St.Engine 7Haz-Mat. Unit 33South District
Burncoat Fire Station 19 Burncoat St.Engine 8North District
Tatnuck Square Fire Station 1067 Pleasant St.Engine 9North District
Greendale Fire Station 438 W. Boylston St.Engine 11Ladder Truck 6North District
McKeon Fire Station 80 McKeon Rd.Engine 15Ladder Truck 5(tiller)South District

Disbanded Fire Companies

Throughout the history of the Worcester Fire Department, several fire companies have been disbanded.

  • Engine 1 - Central St. & Major Taylor Blvd. - Disbanded 2007
  • Engine 10 - 424 Park Ave. - Disbanded 2007
  • Engine 14 - Cambridge St. & McKeon Rd. - Disbanded 1991

Notable Incidents

Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire
Main article: Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire

On December 3, 1999, six firefighters were killed at the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire.[5] 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.[6] 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).[7] Also in the procession were firefighters from around the United States, Canada, and from Dublin, Ireland.[8]

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.[9]

References
  1. O’Brien, Michael. "Fiscal 2013 Annual Budget" (PDF). City or Worcester. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. "Stations". Worcester Fire Department. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  3. "Stations". IAFF 1009. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. "About". Worcester MA Fire Department. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. McDowell, Thomas. "Six Career Fire Fighters Killed in Cold-Storage and Warehouse Building Fire - Massachusetts". Division of Respiratory Disease Studies. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. "Abandoned Cold Storage Warehouse MultiFirefighter Fatality Fire" (PDF). FEMA. Homeland Security. December 1999. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. Jarvey, Paul (9 December 1999). "Words are not enough". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  8. Astell, Emilie; Shaun Sutner (8 December 1999). "From president to residents, 25,000 expected at tribute". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on 30 July 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  9. "Foundation History". The Leary Firefighters Foundation. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
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