PHOTOS: Ceremony Honors Those Killed in 1972 Hotel Vendome Fire

On Friday, firefighters gathered on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall to pay respect to the nine firefighters who died in the line of duty during the 4 alarm fire at the Hotel Vendome on June 17, 1972.  The 39th anniversary ceremony was at noon at the Vendome Memorial Wall across from the site of the fire.

The firefighters were killed when a wall collapsed after the fire was out. It was determined that the weight of the water had filled voids in the wall where construction had taken place and it gave way under the weight, said former firefighter and Patch freelancer Stephen Walsh, who's father worked (and survived) the fire.

"This was the largest loss of firefighters in Boston's history and remains as one of the most historic fires in the nation's history," Walsh said.

All nine firefighters are buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury.

Here is a list of the nine lost. Eight others were injured.

• Firefighter Thomas W. Beckwith
• Firefighter Joseph E. Boucher
• Lieutenant Thomas J. Carroll
• Firefighter Charles E. Dolan
• Lieutenant John E. Hanbury, Jr.
• Firefighter John E. Jameson
• Firefighter Richard B. Magee
• Firefighter Paul J. Murphy
• Firefighter Joseph P. Saniuk