November 6, 2009 Worcester to honor fallen firefighters in memorial event Play video

(NECN: Jennifer Eagan, Worcester, Mass.) - The city of Worcester is getting ready to honor six firefighters who lost their lives in a fire 10 years ago.

Almost a decade ago, Representative John Bineinda stood at the site of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire and watched the flames overtake the building.

Friends of his were trapped inside, including Joseph McGuirk.

Bineinda had helped get him a job with the department.

“I said to one of the firefighters...do you think they can be alright and he said maybe they found a room even though he knew that there was no chance they'd be alive.”

On December 3rd, the six Worcester firefighters who died will be honored in a memorial event.

Plans are still taking form, but District Chief Frank Diliddo says the ceremony will be held at the Franklin Street fire station, built on the grounds of the warehouse.

As in years past, a bell will ring at 6:13 pm noting the time when the alarm sounded for the fire a decade ago.

Invitations have been extended to Vice President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and Vicki Kennedy, the wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

Diliddo expects firefighters from across the nation to attend.