‘Two Great Firefighters’ Killed in Beacon Street Blaze Honored
Lieutenant Edward Walsh, Jr. and Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy, the two men killed in a nine-alarm fire at a Beacon Street apartment building in March, were honored Tuesday at the 25th Annual Firefighter of the Year Heroic Awards Ceremony, The Boston Globe reports.
Governor Deval Patrick joined state and fire officials to present 22 awards to firefighters from 10 communities across the Commonwealth at the ceremony, which was held at the John F. Kennedy Library.
Walsh and Kennedy each received the highest honor; Kennedy’s parents, Walsh’s wife and two of his three children accepted the awards on their behalf. The Boston Fire Department also accepted a group Meritorious Recognition for its efforts to rescue the men, who were trapped in the building’s basement.
“Within minutes of responding to the Beacon Street fire, we lost two great firefighters. Their devotion to duty compelled them to rush into what would become a perilous situation,’’ Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph E. Finn said.
Kennedy, 33, a veteran of the Marine Corps, had been with the department for six and a half years. Walsh, 43, came from a family of firefighters and had been with the department for nine and a half years.
Kathy Crosby-Bell, Kennedy’s mother, told The Globe, “I can’t tell you how heartening it is to have what I feel like is a little bit of Michael in every one of the firefighters that is here today.’’
More than 150 firefighters responded to the Mar. 26 fire, which sent 18 people, including 13 other firefighters, to area hospitals. Walsh and Kennedy were the only people killed in the blaze.
Strong winds likely stoked the fast-moving fire, the fastest then-Deputy Fire Chief Finn told Boston.com he had seen “in 30 years.’’
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com