Boston Fire Dept. Double LODD, 03/26/14.

[SOlsonBFDL14]

This afternoon at approximately 2:45PM Box 1579 was transmitted for a fire in the basement at 298 Beacon Street in the Back Bay section of our city. Engine 33, First Due, reported smoke showing from Floor 1 of a 4 story ordinary construction, occupied multiple dwelling (OMD). The officer & pipe man advanced a 2.5" line through the front door & down the interior stairs into the basement. Within a short period of time things went catastrophically wrong & the Officer of Engine 33 issued a Mayday stating that they were trapped in the basement without any water. Numerous valiant attempts were made to rescue the members. Firefighter Michael Kennedy of Ladder Company 15 was pulled from the basement in cardiac arrest & suffering from severe burns. Despite the best attempts of the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Firefighter Kennedy succumbed to his injuries. It wasn't until several hours later that crews were finally able to locate the officer, Fire Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh of Engine Company 33, in the basement & recover his body. Firefighter Kennedy (33) was single, a USMC combat veteran & had just over six years on the job. He lived just down the road from me in Hyde Park. Lieutenant Walsh (43) was married, with 2 sons & a daughter all under the age of 10, with just over nine years of experience & lived in West Roxbury. Lieutenant Walsh also has several members of his family that work for the Watertown (MA) Fire Department. Today is a sad tragic day. I've been numb for hours. I was down at our Academy for training today & we listened to the entire incident unfold, hoping for the best, which sadly was not the case today. Please keep the families of FR Kennedy & FLT Walsh, as well as their other family on the Boston Fire Department, in your thoughts & prayers. Thank you.