Boston LODD

On March 26, a nine alarm fire which grew more dangerous due to high winds took the lives of two of Boston's firefighters, Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy. Usually, the news of a line of duty death makes only local news and through the firefighting community. However, this caught the attention of the nation. Over 150 firefighters battled against the blaze and 17 firefighters were sent to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the fire. New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady even commented on the fire; the fire was at a house just a few down from where he lives. Brady was photographed observing firefighters work.

There is so much more to consider with these line of duty deaths. It is always hard to lose a comrade to the beast, we always want to fulfill "everyone comes home." Walsh left behind a wife and three young children, Kennedy had served as a Marine in the Iraq War and leaves behind a girlfriend who plans to run in the Boston Marathon with his initials painted on her leg this week. Both are described as jakes dedicated to the job and all-around good guys.

Their funerals were attended by thousands. Thousands of firefighters from across the country came to pay their final respects to these two men. From small town USA to Pittsburgh to New York City and everyone in between, firefighters wanted a chance to pay their final respects.

Boston Deputy Chief Joseph Finn said that "In 30 years, I have never seen a fire travel that fast, escalate that quickly, and create havoc in such a short period of time." (CBS Boston)

This fire was ferocious. Often, after injury or death, we ask why or what we could have done to prevent it. It will be a valuable read once the official report comes out, but this fire was simply nasty. In the attempt to rescue the fallen firefighters, other firefighters were injured and blown back by a backdraft. The incident commander had to decide to pull out the rest of the firefighters in order to keep the rest of the crews safe. Nothing about this fire was routine. Everything was hard.

We, as a brotherhood, recognize the sacrifice these two men made that March afternoon. As well, we know everything that their comrades are going through as they try to move forward. Even though Boston lost two, the next call, the crews had to be ready. And Lt. Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy would not expect anything else. Rest in peace brothers, we got it from here.