R.I.P. Lt Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

Yesterday Boston lost two members of it's fire department as they battled a 9 alarm fire in downtown Boston, both firefighters were trapped in the basement looking for possible victims.

60mph winds made it virtually impossible to put the fire out, it started around 2:00pm.

Boston is in mourning today, almost a year removed from the Marathon tragedy, this fire was near the finish line of the Marathon, talk about ironic.

Firefighters risk their lives everyday by simply doing their job, what a sin, Walsh leaves behind a wife and three small children.

A sad day in Boston...............

 

[Larry Allen]

As a long time Cambridge, Mass. resident I know the dedication that these guys display every day, both the BFD and all departments.
Not to speak lightly about this but did anyone see that Patriot's QB, Tom Brady had a great tribute to these HEROs and he described them.
He and his family just moved into the Brownstones only 4 homes away. He watch the events unfold and was struck by the courage he showed.

Also, many other Boston and NE "athletes" have Tweeted about the tragedy. Like Tom or hate him, it WAS a classy move --- Larry

 

[Rediarmor]

Sad to hear of another Firefighter's death, it's always worse when there are more than one. My thoughts are with the families. I did that job for 32 years. R.I.P.

 

[lancer]

Of all that nature can throw in the path of a firefighter, high winds are about the most feared and difficult to deal with. Whether in a forest of trees or city, high winds make fire travel/spread extremely volatile, unbelievably rapid, and highly unpredictable. Firefighters can do everything right and wind can negate it all. So it was in Boston yesterday. Yet the BFD will remain on the job, as all FD's would, because that is what they do. I salute them. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

Tragic news, George. My hearts go out to the families of the fallen firefighters, and to the City of Boston.

 

[jazzeum]

Condolences to their families, the FD, their colleagues and friends.

Brad

 

[marco55]

Very brave men.Very good men.
Mark

 

[Warrior]

Bruins had a moment of silence tonight before the Blackhawks game, BFD color guard went out onto the ice for the signing of the national anthem. All the Bruins players wore BFD ballcaps during their pregame skate.

As much as the Red Sox are loved here in Boston, the Bruins have a strangle hold on the pulse of Boston, they are a blue collar team more so than the Red Sox are or ever will be...............

 

[Panzer ace]

I love sports, baseball, football,hockey etc. the men who play these games are unbelievably gifted. However, if my sons ever ask me who my heroes are I will tell them that they are men like Edward J. Walsh Jr. and Michael R. Kennedy

Read this article and tell me I am wrong:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...urns-crisis/VciKjCDUWGZbp8saE1jWGM/story.html

 

[Vezzolf]

Very Tragic/ Sad News.....It was said that this was possibly the worse fire seen in Boston in the last 30 years .....High winds caused the tragedy blowing out a basement window escalating the flames and trapping these brave men...My younger son lives just 2 blocks away in the Back Bay area....Condolences to the families of these good men.....Boston has had more then their share of bad events recently ....BOSTON STRONG... ALWAYS

 

[gk5717]

I,ve read the accounts as to what happened to these two firefighters, not being a firefighter or having any knowledge in the workings of fighting a fire I have always wondered this.
I totally understand going into a burning building if there is the chance someone is trapped inside, in other words a rescue attempt. But what I never could figure out why when a building is on fire and I,m talking a major type fire, why firemen are entering the building or standing on the roof. When a building is obviously beyond saving why not first contain the fire and then second put it out. Why risk harm by entering or standing on the roof. I know there are some retired or active firefighter out there that could answer this.
Gary

 

[lancer]

I,ve read the accounts as to what happened to these two firefighters, not being a firefighter or having any knowledge in the workings of fighting a fire I have always wondered this.
I totally understand going into a burning building if there is the chance someone is trapped inside, in other words a rescue attempt. But what I never could figure out why when a building is on fire and I,m talking a major type fire, why firemen are entering the building or standing on the roof. When a building is obviously beyond saving why not first contain the fire and then second put it out. Why risk harm by entering or standing on the roof. I know there are some retired or active firefighter out there that could answer this.
Gary

Gary, the answer lies with the FD code, the saving of life and property. If any question of people inside, confirmed or not, we go in, given that the whole building isn't engulfed and entry impossible. The reason you see FF's on the roof or in a building with no rescues in progress is to try to save property, especially in tight city quarters where the biggest danger becomes the spread of fire from one building to the next. An FD cannot risk a one apartment fire becoming a full building fire or a one building fire becoming a multiple building fire. FF's take the chances required to save life and property. Most of the time it pays handsome and necessary results. Sometimes it ends in tragedy. In Boston, the situation went bad too fast for
anyone to control the situation. Like I said in the earlier post, an FD can do everything right and still lose. It is the very nature of the job. -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

Gary, the answer lies with the FD code, the saving of life and property. If any question of people inside, confirmed or not, we go in, given that the whole building isn't engulfed and entry impossible. The reason you see FF's on the roof or in a building with no rescues in progress is to try to save property, especially in tight city quarters where the biggest danger becomes the spread of fire from one building to the next. An FD cannot risk a one apartment fire becoming a full building fire or a one building fire becoming a multiple building fire. FF's take the chances required to save life and property. Most of the time it pays handsome and necessary results. Sometimes it ends in tragedy. In Boston, the situation went bad too fast for
anyone to control the situation. Like I said in the earlier post, an FD can do everything right and still lose. It is the very nature of the job. -- Al

Al:

Just when I thought my admiration for firefighters could not be any greater, I read your comments with sheer amazement as my admiration grows. The dedication to life is one thing but you mention property and the adulation increases ten-fold.

 

[Larry Allen]

Just saw (local news) that many firefighters are (and have been) at Logan Airport to greet and assist the arriving families of the fallen heroes ... inspiring to watch but a bit difficult. --- Larry

 

[lancer]

Al:

Just when I thought my admiration for firefighters could not be any greater, I read your comments with sheer amazement as my admiration grows. The dedication to life is one thing but you mention property and the adulation increases ten-fold.

Hi Jason. Along with the obvious mission of preserving life, it is a point of pride in the FD to limit damage to property to an absolute minimum in any given situation. Sometimes conditions conspire against it and the FD is forced into a defensive position but the creed is 'get in there and get it done', an aggressiveness that is necessary to limit loss of life and property. Essentially, the FD wants to control the fire instead of letting it control them. -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

Hi Jason. Along with the obvious mission of preserving life, it is a point of pride in the FD to limit damage to property to an absolute minimum in any given situation. Sometimes conditions conspire against it and the FD is forced into a defensive position but the creed is 'get in there and get it done', an aggressiveness that is necessary to limit loss of life and property. Essentially, the FD wants to control the fire instead of letting it control them. -- Al

Al:

Call it pride or dedication, either way firefighters are simply better men than I am. There is no shame for me in that, it is simply a fact.