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Officials: Firefighters saved lives before they gave their own
By adamg on Wed, 03/26/2014 - 8:33pm
Lt. Ed Walsh of Engine 33 and firefighter Michael Kennedy of Ladder 15 died this afternoon in the basement of a Beacon Street building they had rushed into to help save residents trapped on topped floors, fire officials said at a press conference tonight.
"It's a sad day for the city of Boston," Mayor Walsh said. "We lost 2 heroes here today."
Deputy Chief Joseph Finn said the two firefighters raced down into the basement, where the fire at 298 Beacon St. originated. Finn said the current thinking is that a window blew out and "threw the fire at them." He added that several of the 13 other firefighters injured in the fire suffered burns due to the "backdraft explosion."
Finn said strong winds likely contributed to the problems. He said in his 33 years as a firefighter, he had never seen a fire spread so fast.
He added that Walsh's body was not recovered from the basement until about 7:30 p.m. - the building was in such precarious condition, it was risky for firefighters to try to get him.
Finn said Walsh, 43, who leaves three children under the age of 10, lived in West Roxbury, while Kennedy, 33, a Marine Corps veteran, lived in Hyde Park.
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Comments
Two brave men
May they both rest in peace. Condolences to their families, especially the young children.
Ed Walsh's Family
What can be done so members of the community can help Ed Walsh's family pay the bills and pay tuition for college when the time comes?
I just got this started
Will work with the BFD to get the funds to the families. I'm already on touch with extended family of Mike Kennedy.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fallen-heroes-of-beacon-street-fire--...
I believe that's called "insurance"
It's not like either of these folks were uneducated, unemployed, or unaware of what they did for a living.
What a cold, bitter person you must be
So don't contribute.
Adam
you're too kind. Libertarian asshole is more like it.
How do you know that?
I think we can leave it at asshole.
That's me: cold and bitter
Yeah, I debated posting that, because I knew there would be a few "You're so meeean" and "You're so cold I bet your mommy doesn't love you" replies.
Look, these folks chose to do a job that's inherently dangerous that most people after kindergarten decide isn't such a smart idea after all. I'm glad they do it, and I appreciate their efforts. But it's not like you're passing the hat for random good Samaritans who ran into a burning building on the spur of the moment. This isn't a small town volunteer force. These are Boston FD, who are well paid for their time, they get a ton of benefits, and, when they retire (at an early age, mind you) they continue to get benefits for life. They have insurance as part of the job which includes survivor benefits, and there was nothing stopping either of them from also paying for a term life insurance policy for the duration of their working life out of their own pocket as well.
If this arrangement isn't good enough for you then maybe instead of passing the hat for the FD folks only when bad things like this happen you should be garnering support for insurance benefits for the FD workers. After all, wouldn't a standardized "passed hat" backed by an policy be a better (and fairer) solution than the temperamental kindness of strangers? Oh, wait, that's what we already have! But hey, feel free to call me a cold and bitter asshole because I pointed this out.
Injecting politics...
...just kinda sucks. I have libertarian leanings. I've also worked in that firehouse. Bite me.
you're just mad you lost your
you're just mad you lost your life savings in a fake nerd currency for buying drugs
Loser
Never have I wanted to thumbs down/dislike a comment on UHub as much as this one. Heartless loser.
Families
As the son of a BFD firefighter who died in the line of duty, you shouldn't worry about the family's financial situation.
By all means donate some additional money, I just wanted to point out that the Boston Fire Union, The Hundred Club, the State, Feds and slew of other groups do a ALOT of work to support the families... for their entire lives.
The Vendome...
...happened forty years ago. Like it was yesterday.
I'm sure there will be
I'm sure there will be charities set up in the next couple of weeks, be patient and don't forget how you feel right now. Don't give money to some random online charity account, especially when you have no way of verifying who the money is going to.
Hundred Club
There is already one charity that has been around since 1959 expressely to benefit the families of fallen police and fire.
It's call The Hundred Club of Massachussettes:
They helped me through two college degrees and to this day send my mother tickets to Red Sox playoff games, dinners, etc.
If you have a burning desire to donate to the families, do it through the Hundred Club.
Michael Kennedy worked and
Michael Kennedy worked and was assigned to an East Boston firehouse before starting at engine 33 in the back bay.
Keep in mind
That Engine 33 is about a block from where one of the bombs went off last April.
They were the ones running toward the carnage when everyone else was running away. It is what they do.
That was the first thing I
That was the first thing I thought of when I heard it was 33 sending the mayday.
I tried to put it into words (https://www.facebook.com/flannfry/posts/10100312353448209?stream_ref=10) but honestly, still, my mind has no way to process this tonight. I know it's what they do and we're all so damn lucky there are people willing to put themselves in that position day after day but ... it's just so unfair.
Man, this f'n blows.
Man, this f'n blows.
This is why I still
tear up whenever I see the "When others ran out, they ran in" billboard. Rest in peace. Please let us know where to donate.
One option
Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation - Kennedy sat on its board.
Also, the Greg Hill Foundation will be holding some sort of fundraising tomorrow.
Greg Hill Foundation donation page
Here.
One word: Heroes.
One word: Heroes.
They and their comrades would do it again, knowing exactly what would happen, over and over again, if they thought it could save someone's life. I'm proud to call some of these firefighters personal friends, they all have my utmost respect.
I think sometimes people
I think sometimes people cheapen the term hero when they use it for every policeman or soldier out there. Every fireman is deserving of that title and these two especially. I can't imagine what it takes to enter a burning building knowing that it could be your last moment alive. I can't think of anyone more deserving of respect and gratitude than these men and as the other person said, I am sure the money his widow will receive will help but not completely cover college costs etc. and if anyone knows of a fund started in his name please post a link here.
Beautifully put. I did not
Beautifully put. I did not personally know either man, but have many mutual contacts and friends. Both by all accounts seem like truly upstanding individuals. I am particularly struck that Firefighter Kennedy was not only a Marine Corps veteran but also volunteered with the Burn Foundation and Big Brother Association - he clearly was a man for others. Lt. Walsh was well known to many in West Roxbury and leaves behind three young children, I am so heartbroken for those children and their mother I don't even know what to really say. True heroes in every sense of the word, no embellishment needed.
Tom Brady gets it right
He lives several doors down from the fire, and was there yesterday afternoon:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/03/tom-brady-boston-fire-back-bay-firefight...
MK
Dork was a fucking champion. RIP
Terrible loss for the firefighting community.
My heart aches for the families of the lost and for the chief that had to call the evacuation. It will haunt him forever but he did the right thing. A painful burden I wouldn't wish on anyone.
I used to live right by
I used to live right by Engine 33/Ladder 15, and when walking past their firehouse on nice days, the guys have the overhead doors open and sit right next to the sidewalk. I'm pretty sure I've said "hi" to both of them on numerous occasions, but Michael Kennedy looks very familiar for sure.
My heartfelt condolences to both families of these brave heroes.