Arlington St LODD

UMass Memorial CEO

From John O'Brien

December 9, 2011

With sympathy and acknowledgement

The Central Massachusetts community is deeply grieved by the loss of a Worcester firefighter yesterday. Our sympathies and support go to the family of Jon Davies, his colleagues who were injured and all members of the Worcester Fire Department (WFD). While our work often brings death close, it is never more tragic than when a public servant losses his or her life in the line of duty.

We are focused on the City's firefighters and their loved ones, yet I also want to recognize the very important role that our own UMass Memorial colleagues played in yesterday's tragedy. The fire was first noticed and reported at 4:20 am by one of our paramedics who was at our UMass Memorial Providence Street EMS Station, which is adjacent to the rear of the triple-decker that was quickly fully engulfed in fire.

After reporting the fire to our EMS Communications Center, three of our paramedics and our EMS supervisor ran into the burning building before the WFD arrived. Our team made its way to the second floor where they assisted a resident to escape. They then tried to re-enter the structure to continue to search but were deterred because of the intense heat and smoke. As they retreated from the building, the first WFD unit arrived, and our EMS supervisor informed the firefighters about a potential second person in the building.

Our paramedics then proceeded to clear the adjacent triple-decker of occupants for their safety. There were several families in this building that were roused and instructed to leave. They opened our Providence Street Station to these evacuated residents as well as to any WFD personnel that needed shelter, facilities, etc.

Once out of the building, our EMS supervisor became the leader of the medical branch of the incident, fully integrating into the incident command system with the WFD. Later in the morning, following the collapse of the building, one of our paramedics entered the building to perform CPR on Mr. Davies while his colleagues worked to extricate him from the rubble. Our paramedics transported both injured firefighters and the deceased to our University Campus.

All five of our night-shift ambulance units and one of our day-shift ambulances were involved in the rescue, on-site medical care and transport. Yesterday afternoon, our team remained on-scene with one ambulance and one supervisor on standby for the ongoing fire operation and investigation.

Although the immediate focus of community grief is, and should be, the ultimate sacrifice made by Mr. Davies this morning, it is with great admiration and pride that I acknowledge the heroism of our own UMass Memorial EMS employees, who noticed the fire, reported it, without regard for their own safety entered the fire building and helped save the residents, and then tended to and transported the firefighters.

I know it is particularly troubling for our EMS team to deal with the death or serious injury of a fellow public safety professional, especially one with whom I am sure most if not all of our field personnel have worked with side by side. The men and women of our UMass Memorial EMS deal with this type of stress every day, and I appreciate the opportunity to acknowledge their exemplary work. Truly, UMass Memorial Health Care staff members, no matter the assignment, exemplify the fact that we have the "Best People" providing the "Best Care."