Firefighter Remembered As 'Hero To His Last Breath'

The governor and lieutenant governor on Wednesday praised Lt. Jason Menard as a hero, after the Worcester firefighter lost his life in a blaze on Stockholm Street earlier Wednesday morning.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito both said it was hard to believe the Worcester Fire Department is again mourning the loss of one of its own -- Menard's death is the third line of duty death for the department in the almost 20 years since the Worcester Cold Storage Fire claimed the lives of six firefighters.

"It's almost not comprehensible that in 20 years, nine Worcester firefighters have perished in the line of duty," said Polito, who lives in neighboring Shrewsbury.

Menard, a nine-year veteran of the department assigned to the McKeon Road Fire Station, reportedly died trying to search a three-story home for a resident and baby thought to be trapped on an upper floor. Baker said it was Menard's "heroic and selfless actions that saved the other members of this crew."

"You can't say this enough, first responders wake up every morning and answer every call never knowing what surprise may be in store for them, and knowing full well that they might be putting their lives on the line for the sake of others," Baker said. "And 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."

"He epitomized the devotion, camaraderie and bravery that make up the fabric of the Worcester Fire Department," Baker said.

Polito, who visited with fire officials in Worcester on Wednesday morning, called Menard "a hero to his last breath."

A command center has been established in Worcester, where local officials are working with the state fire marshal and federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to begin a forensic investigation of the fire scene, Polito said.

"The people of Worcester have suffered another heartbreaking loss. Lt. Jason Menard was a dedicated firefighter who died courageously on the front lines protecting his community," Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. "As a fire department that has faced unspeakable loss and sacrifice in the line of duty, we will continue to honor the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices made to keep us safe."