Period of healing begins for Fire Department

Recovery crew shifts focus to grieving

CYNTHIA KOURY
Reprinted with Permission, Telegram & Gazette

WORCESTER -- Fire officials said one way they coped with the devastating loss to their professional family Dec. 3 was to focus on a singular and all-important task: bringing out all six firefighters who died when fire struck the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building.

They accomplished that Saturday night when the last victim, Paul A. Brotherton, was carried out of the burned-out warehouse.

District Fire Chief Paul A. Rogacz said the search was a long and difficult ordeal.

“I believe the focus we had was what sustained us,” he said.

“The fact that our six brothers are back is a tremendous relief to us,” District Chief Rogacz said. “It's 'mission accomplished.' ”

That operation was Fire Chief Dennis L. Budd's primary concern.

“There wasn't really much more I was dealing with,” he said yesterday.

“I believe now the grieving process can begin, because we brought the operation to a conclusion and to closure,” he said.

While the recovery of the six firefighters has brought relief to many in the department, Chief Budd said he is left with “a heavy feeling since this began, and we really don't know when it's going to end.”

Chief Budd said the stress-management programs that firefighters and their families are now involved in will be in place for 18 months. No one knows how individuals will deal with the tragedy over the months ahead, he said. Managing their grief will be a private matter, he said.

When asked about the personal impact, Chief Budd said, “My wife and I are coping. We're grieving just like everyone. It's been a struggle.”

Firefighter Frank P. Raffa, president of Worcester Fire Fighters Local 1009, said he has been leaning on his wife and children for support. “Most guys are relying on their families,” he said. “Now, it's our time to take a breather.”

District Fire Chief Ronald A. DeFusco said the outpouring of warmth from the community also has helped.

“People would fall over to do anything to help,” he said.

There still is hard work ahead, including an emotional week of funerals, Firefighter Raffa and others said.

The first of the funerals took place Saturday, when Firefighter Timothy P. Jackson, the first firefighter pulled from the building, was laid to rest. They will continue through the week for Fire Lt. Thomas E. Spencer and Firefighters James F. Lyons, Joseph T. McGuirk, Paul A. Brotherton and Jeremiah M. Lucey.

Afterward, firefighters will work to ensure the six families have everything they need, Firefighter Raffa said. He noted that 17 sons and daughters have been left without fathers.

“They may never need us,” he said, but, “every firehouse in this city will be open to them.”

Yesterday, officials said, firefighters were keeping busy, responding to calls and cleaning their stations.

“Right now everybody's pulling together,” Deputy Chief John P. McNamara said.

District Chief DeFusco said he can already see firefighters returning to a routine. He has noticed they are needling and joking with each other, something that goes on all the time. It helps to relieve the tension, he said.

“I can't say it's business as usual, but it's getting back to some normality,” District Chief DeFusco said.

The fallen firefighters will be missed, he said, but their memories will be cherished. “Now we have to have healing,” he said.

Firefighter Raffa said he hopes the broader spirit of cooperation that arose in the community after the fire endures.

“We have to continue this bonding, with everyone working together,” he said. “We have to do everything to maintain that.”