Hero firefighter, 39, dies saving two colleagues in house inferno after they rescued a woman and baby just hours before the father-of-three’s vacation to Disney World
- Lt. Jason Menard, 39, was killed saving two of his firefighter colleagues from a house fire in Worcester, Massachusetts
- The fire broke out at a home on Stockholm Street in Worcester around 1am
- When the firefighters arrived at the scene, a woman and a baby were trapped in the building – two of the crew then became trapped on the third floor
- Menard helped a probationary firefighter to the stairs and then returned to rescue another trapped firefighter, assisting him out a window
- Menard, who was with the department since 2010, was pronounced dead at the hospital
- Menard had been planning a trip to Disney World with his family after his Wednesday shift ended
- The American Red Cross said up to 15 people were displaced from the fire, which remains under investigation
A Massachusetts firefighter has died after rescuing two of his colleagues from a burning home just hours before he was due to take a family trip to Disney World.
The fire broke out at a home on Stockholm Street in Worcester around 1am. When the firefighters arrived at the scene, a woman and a baby were trapped in the building – two of the crew then became trapped on the third floor.
Worcester Fire Chief Michael Lavoie said that Lt. Jason Menard, 39, freed the two crew members from the raging inferno but got trapped on the third floor himself.
‘Lt. Menard heroically and selflessly saved his crew, helping a probationary firefighter to the stairs and then returning to rescue another trapped firefighter, assisting him out the window. Fire conditions overtook the third floor at this time and Lt. Menard was unable to escape,’ Lavoie told a news conference.
Lavoie said high winds hampered efforts to reach Menard. He was eventually located and taken to hospital but died there.
Menard had been planning to take his family to Disney World on vacation once his shift ended Wednesday, Fox News reported.
Lt. Jason Menard, 39, died after saving two of his colleagues from a burning home
This is what remains from an overnight fire in Worcester, Massachusetts Wednesday
Menard was taken to the hospital along with three colleagues.
‘Two were released from the hospital. We have one firefighter still in the hospital, he has serious injuries, second and third degree burns,’ Lavoie added.
‘He will be alright. He is stable so thank God for that.’
‘It’s because of brave men and women like Lt. Menard and his team that we all rest easy at night. We must always be eternally grateful for their service and their sacrifice,’ Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said.
‘He epitomized the devotion, camaraderie and bravery that make up the fabric of the Worcester Fire Department.’
The American Red Cross said up to 15 people were displaced from the fire, which remains under investigation.
Weather conditions made it even worse for Lt. Jason Menard, who was on the third floor of a home and was pronounced dead
Menard, 39, was able to rescue two colleagues from a burning third floor of a home. Menard died in the four-alarm fire
He was with the department since 2010. Menard is survived by his wife Tina, three children and his parents.
‘This is a tragic day for the Worcester Fire Department and the city of Worcester,’ Mayor Joseph Petty told WCVB. ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lt. Menard’s family.’
Flags were lowered to half-staff outside the department’s headquarters on Grove Street, WCVB said.
Firefighters salute as the Grove Street Fire Station flag is placed at half-staff in honor of Lt. Jason Menard
Worcester, Massachusetts Fire Lt. Jason Menard rescued two of his fellow firefighters Wednesday, but he couldn’t make out alive
Jason Menard was planing to bring his family to Disney World hours before he was killed fighting a fire
Police and fire departments from throughout Massachusetts saluted the body of Menard, as his remains were brought to the medical examiner in Boston and then returned to Worcester.
The city is establishing a memorial fund in honor of Menard.