On this day (December 3) in 1999, a very tragic fire took place in Worcester, Massachusetts. A fire broke out in a large vacant six story building. The structure, using heavy timber construction, was built as a cold-storage warehouse around 1905 – 1910. The brick walls were 18 inches thick. The interior walls were lined with asphalt-impregnated cork insulation. The warehouse was 85 to 90 feet tall, L-shaped, measuring 185 feet by 150 feet.
At 6:13 p.m., Worcester fire dispatch received the initial call of smoke coming from the cold-storage warehouse. First arriving fire crews reported smoke coming from the roof of the building. A second alarm was requested, bringing additional personnel and apparatus to the scene. A fire was located on the second floor. Attack lines were positioned to fight the fire on the second floor and floors above the fire. More than twenty minutes after first arriving crews were on the scene, conditions rapidly deteriorated with the buildup of thick heavy black smoke, heat and fire. Crews were ordered down from the upper floors. Two firefighters became disoriented and could not find their way out. Additional personnel were sent in to conduct a search on every floor for the two missing firefighters. Two additional firefighters were missing. As conditions continued to deteriorate, the decision was made to bring everyone conducting a search out of the building. It was then that they realized that a total of six firefighters were missing. A dozen firefighters were at the door ready to go in and search for the six missing firefighters. District Chief Michael McNamee made the decision to discontinue the search. He had to tell the dozen firefighters that no one else was going inside.
I refer to this as “critical leadership.” This is by far the most stressful and difficult type of decision making. Critical leadership is bold decision making. It is grounded in the conviction to take a stand. It illustrates the courage to take an unpopular position. It demonstrates responsibility for all involved (the Big Picture).
Worcester F.D. District Chief Michael McNamee is the epitome of critical leadership. His decision that night saved firefighter lives. In the absence of his courageous stand, how many more firefighters would have died that tragic evening?
In Memoriam
Lieutenant Thomas E. Spencer, Ladder 2
Firefighter Paul Brotherton, Rescue 1
Firefighter Timothy Jackson, Ladder 2
Firefighter Jeremiah M. Lucey, Rescue 1
Firefighter James F. Lyons, Engine 3
Firefighter Joseph T. McGuirk, Engine 3