Walsh, 43, was a married father of three young children from West Roxbury who, in many ways, epitomized that stable, family-oriented neighborhood. Kennedy, 33, was a Marine Corps veteran with a big personality and an even larger circle of friends. Walsh and Kennedy had entered the basement of the four-story building when they became trapped by the rapidly escalating blaze whipped by winds gusting up to 45 miles an hour. But their initial actions provided other firefighters with the opportunity to rescue residents from upper floors, authorities said.
Walsh and Kennedy hailed from one of the busiest firehouses in the city — Engine 33/Ladder 15 on Boylston Street. They were exquisitely equipped by virtue of training and experience to handle such a challenge. Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Finn — one of the department’s most respected leaders — was the incident commander. Boston’s best were on the scene. And still two firefighters lost their lives in what Finn called the fastest-moving fire in his 30-year career. That’s the nature of a job that fills the public with awe at such a time.
Now comes the task of working through the heartbreak. The Boston Fire Department will come out stronger for the experience because members of this profession always draw lessons from such tragedies that can be used to protect the public first, and only then themselves. In the great tradition of the city’s fire department, Lieutenant Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy chose service over self. The public can only respond with boundless appreciation for these two men who placed no limitations on their sacrifices.