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Firehouse.Com News

Eleven months ago, television viewers watched as the tragedy of the Worcester Six played out on their sets nationwide. Thursday night, CBS's "48 Hours" news team returned to recount the unforgettable night of Dec. 3, 1999, when a vacant cold storage building in Worcester, Mass., exploded into a raging five-alarm fire, claiming the lives of six firefighters.

This broadcast presents an enormously positive view of the fire fighting fraternity despite the tragic nature of the subject. And perhaps a major benefit firefighters will see is the greater concern and understanding the rest of society will display after seeing this show.

In "Heroes Under Fire," correspondent Dan Rather and producers Anthony Batson and Peter Henderson begin with a fact-telling narration of video that lays out the dramatic and finally grisly circumstance. It is the video that begins leading the viewer into firefighting world most have no idea exists.

District Chief Mike McNamee describes the actions taken by him as fire ground commander and the firefighters as the blaze went from relatively normal interior fire to a killing inferno. It is perhaps the most emotional segment, which finally has McNamee admitting that six were lost and no more will suffer that fate. The pictures declare the deep sorrow felt amongst the living firefighters, knowing their friends were gone.

The third segment moves out of the firefighting world. Perhaps to add a sense of the broader story, the producers had correspondent Bill Lagattuta report the story of Julie Barnes, one of the two homeless people accused of starting the blaze. She and her companion, Tom Levesque, faced charges of manslaughter, which were later dismissed.

Barnes' story Thursday night included her reunion with her younger sister, the adopted daughter of Deborah and Timothy King of Maine. The Kings became strong advocates for Julie Barnes when they discovered the relationship with their adopted child.

This segment, which leads completely away from the firefighting family story, does one thing clearly. It shows, like the widows and fatherless children, circumstances for this woman have too have changed radically and people have come into her life that she didn't know were there for her. The show leaves you with a sense that Julie Barnes, declared mentally retarded, was never aware of much that happened. She was simply there at the time.

The following segments bring closure to the story with interviews with Paul Brotherton's sons who want to be firefighters and are regulars around the firehouse. Michelle Lucey describes her ability to carry on and work as an advocate for firefighter protection. And finally there is video of the International Association of Fire Fighters Memorial weekend in Colorado where many grieve together.

It is hard to walk away form this show without some emotional commitment to those clad in soot-covered turnout gear, staring blankly at a charred brick monster. To watch thousands in dress uniforms, tears in their eyes, bagpipes playing, the "citizens" of this country will have to recognize the devotion and bravery found in the firehouse.

If the hour conjures up anything in the mind of the viewer, it illustrates the closeness of the professional family, in this case firefighters taking care of their own. There are few disparaging remarks critical of anyone or any process. The show did not attempt to lay blame or responsibility. It did attempt, and probably succeeded, to display that within the profession the possibility of heroism and death are imminent, and a firefighter chooses it that way.