Chief identifies firefighter who died after becoming trapped in five-alarm Worcester fire

A firefighter has died after becoming trapped while battling a five-alarm blaze in Worcester on Sunday morning, city officials said. Firefighter Christopher Roy was rescued from the burning building, but died of his injuries at a local hospital. A second firefighter was in stable condition and released from the hospital, Chief Michael Lavoie said.“Firefighters were heroic in their efforts to rescue their colleagues under extreme conditions," Lavoie said. Roy, 36, of Shrewsbury, had served in the Worcester Fire Department for more than two years. He leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, his parents and a brother, Lavoie said. Worcester firefighters were called to 7 Lowell St. at 3:58 a.m., the chief said. Residents had said they smelled smoke and heard the alarms around 4 a.m.Officials said the initial reports were for a fire in the basement of the three-story, six-unit building, but the fire was ultimately upgraded to five alarms.“Conditions deteriorated rapidly, with heavy fire forcing several firefighters on the second floor to evacuate," Lavoie said. Intense flames and heavy smoke were seen rising from the third floor of the building as firefighters tried to douse them with their hoses. The water froze as it flowed out of the building.The firefighter was trapped inside the Lowell Street building for an extended period of time before his colleagues could find and rescue him. The Red Cross said about a dozen residents were displaced by the fire.Firefighters were seen hugging and comforting each other even as they continued to work on the smoking building more than five hours after the fire began. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A firefighter has died after becoming trapped while battling a five-alarm blaze in Worcester on Sunday morning, city officials said.

Firefighter Christopher Roy was rescued from the burning building, but died of his injuries at a local hospital.

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A second firefighter was in stable condition and released from the hospital, Chief Michael Lavoie said.

“Firefighters were heroic in their efforts to rescue their colleagues under extreme conditions," Lavoie said.

Firefighter Christopher Roy

Roy, 36, of Shrewsbury, had served in the Worcester Fire Department for more than two years. He leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, his parents and a brother, Lavoie said.

Worcester firefighters were called to 7 Lowell St. at 3:58 a.m., the chief said. Residents had said they smelled smoke and heard the alarms around 4 a.m.

Officials said the initial reports were for a fire in the basement of the three-story, six-unit building, but the fire was ultimately upgraded to five alarms.

“Conditions deteriorated rapidly, with heavy fire forcing several firefighters on the second floor to evacuate," Lavoie said.

Intense flames and heavy smoke were seen rising from the third floor of the building as firefighters tried to douse them with their hoses. The water froze as it flowed out of the building.



The firefighter was trapped inside the Lowell Street building for an extended period of time before his colleagues could find and rescue him.

The Red Cross said about a dozen residents were displaced by the fire.



Firefighters were seen hugging and comforting each other even as they continued to work on the smoking building more than five hours after the fire began.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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The Worcester Fire Department mourns the line of duty death of FF Christopher Roy who courageously battled a 5 alarm fire on Lowell St. All responding firefighters & crews displayed supreme heroism under extreme conditions. We ask you to keep the family of FF Roy in your thoughts pic.twitter.com/Xs0bOQHGFa — Worcester Fire Dept. (@WorcesterFD) December 9, 2018

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Daylight now and fire far from out. Expecting an update soon from Worcester Dep Chief on the condition of one firefighter who was trapped. #WCVB pic.twitter.com/pSTrB5KWXT — Josh Brogadir (@JoshBrogadirTV) December 9, 2018

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