top of page

Episode Twenty Three | The Worcester 6: The Cold Storage Warehouse Fire, Worcester, Mass (part two)



 

The Worcester warehouse fire was a massive disaster for the city. Six men were killed and 17 children left fatherless. Once it was learned what happened, it raised a lot of questions. How could this happen? Should the people who started the fire be charged? Can they be held responsible?

No event has impacted the city of Worcester more in the last 21 years than the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire. It showed what the city and its people are made of. On December 3, 1999, a fire broke out at an abandoned warehouse at 266 Franklin Street in Worcester, Massachusetts - a massive, six story windowless concrete box of a structure. Its maze-like design proved to be deadly. The fire raged undetected for nearly two hours. More than 25 firefighters went in to fight it back. Six of those men didn't make it out. The Worcester Six: Paul Brotherton, Jeremiah Lucey, Thomas Spencer, Timothy Jackson, James Lyons, and Joseph McGuirk.


Photo Gallery Thank you to the Leary Firefighters Foundation learyfirefighters.org


Source Links | Part Two


Worcesterma.gov - The Memorial


MassLive.com - The Sons Carry On


Worc Telegram - Danny Spencer Reflects On Life After His Dad’s Death in 1999


Worc Telegram - Worcester Firefighter Jerry Lucey relies on brotherhood as he navigates his father’s past

https://www.telegram.com/news/20191201/worcester-firefighter-jerry-lucey-relies-on-brotherhood-as-he-navigates-his-fathers-past


Worc Telegram - Ding On Tony Kwan


Seacoast Online - Firefighters To Blame for their own death said warehouse owner

Metrowest Daily News - Warehouse owner still prays for victims, families https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20091204/NEWS/312049892


Cape Cod Times - Wrongful Death Case and Settlement in deadly fire

CNN - Couple Charged



Court Records


Julie Ann Barnes



SeaCoast Online - Worcester fire suspect has long-lost sister


Worcester Telegram - Julie Barnes Get On With Her Life https://www.telegram.com/article/20100122/NEWS/911209967


ABC News - Manslaughter Charges Dismissed https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95698&page=1


Hartford Courant - Tragedy In Worcester: Childlike, Homeless And Accused, by Janice D'arcy



Firehouse.com - Developer settles with families


Archives

Boston Globe - In Worcester, Muted Support For Court's Warehouse Fire Ruling Relatives, Firefighters Back SJC Ruling On Fatal Worcester Fire, by Jenna Russell, Mar 31, 2002 https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.bpl.org/bostonglobe/docview/405440892/53FE640BE471423APQ/9?accountid=9675


Boston Globe - A Trial For What? By Adrian Walker, April 1 2002


Boston Globe - A Path To Tragedy They Were Fixtures In Downtown Worcester, But Often Barely Noticed. That Changed After Their Arrest In The Deadly Warehouse Fire, by Joanna Weiss, Dec 19, 1999






bottom of page