Lt. Jason Menard Is 9th Worcester Firefighter To Die In 20 Years

WORCESTER, MA — Firefighters across Massachusetts and the nation mourned the line-of-duty death of Worcester Lt. Jason Menard on Wednesday, who became the ninth firefighter from the city to die during a fire since 1999.

Menard died after getting trapped on the third floor of a burning triple-decker along Stockholm Street in the Quinsigamond Village neighborhood. The 39-year-old father of three, a graduate of Worcester's Doherty High School, was supposed to be headed out on a trip to Disney with his family on Wednesday.

"They had planned this morning to be on a trip to Disney, they are now planning a hero's sendoff," Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 President Michael Papagni said on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Menard's body was taken to the medical examiner's office in Boston. Firefighters from several towns and cities stood watch above the Mass Pike to salute him as he passed.

The 20th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire is on Dec. 3. Six Worcester firefighters died battling that fire. It's also been less than a year since Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy died battling a five-alarm blaze — his death has been ruled a homicide. Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr. died fighting an apartment fire on Dec. 8, 2011.

The fire that killed Menard was reported around 1 a.m. Menard and his crew entered the home at 7 Stockholm St. searching for a baby and another resident trapped on the second floor, Worcester Fire Chief Michael Lavoie said.

The firefighters were overcome by smoke and fire on the third floor of the home. Menard helped a probationary firefighter escape down a set of stairs, and then went back into the fire to help another firefighter get out a window.

"Fire conditions overtook the third floor, and Lt. Menard was unable to escape," Lavoie said during a press conference.

Firefighters rushed back into the building to save Menard, an effort that was complicated by high winds and freezing temperatures, Lavoie said. Menard and three other firefighters were taken to UMass Medical Center. Menard died there, and one other firefighter remained there in serious condition.

Fire officials did not immediately know the cause of the fire, but the state Fire Marshal, Worcester police, and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms were on scene investigating.

Menard started his career in Worcester in 2010 and was in charge of Ladder 5 at the McKeon Road Fire Station.

Police and fire departments across Massachusetts sent condolences to Menard's family and the Worcester department. Flags were lowered to half-staff across Worcester on Wednesday morning.

Gov. Charlie Baker called Menard a "hero."

"Lt. Menard was not only a dedicated member of [the Worcester Fire Department], but a husband and father of three. Our hearts break for his family, loved ones and the entire community," Baker said in a statement.

We mourn with the @WorcesterFD for the loss of our brother, Lt. Jason Menard. Rest easy, brother. We'll take it from here. https://t.co/I2yrndW6pQ
— Framingham Fire (@FraminghamFire) November" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/Framingham... 13, 2019