Leary Firefighters Foundation

After six firefighters perished in a 1999 warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, a National Fire Safety Board investigation indicated that better equipment and training could have prevented their deaths. In response to this tragedy, EMC began a long-standing partnership with The Leary Firefighters Foundation. Founded by comedian and actor Denis Leary, whose cousin Jeremiah Lucey was among those who died the Foundation works with the friends and families of the firefighters, as well as community and business leaders, to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy.

The Leary Firefighters Foundation and EMC Corporation Training Center for the Worcester Fire Department

EMC funding for the Foundation allowed the Worcester Fire Department (WFD) to construct a new burn tower and training facility, and to purchase a SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) response unit. The burn tower creates the heat and smoke conditions of a real fire as firefighters practice their emergency procedures. With the SCBA response unit, the WFD can issue, repair, and refill air tanks at the scene of a fire. The facility will be used to train firefighters in Central Massachusetts and operate as a command post for statewide emergencies. In recognition of EMC’s longstanding support, the new tower was named the Leary Foundation—EMC Tower.

EMC renewed its commitment to the project by supporting the building of a state-of-the-art facility, The Leary Firefighters Foundation and EMC Corporation Training Center for the Worcester Fire Department, which marked Phase II of a multi-year project for the Worcester Fire Department. The first of its kind, the facility will serve as a command post for Massachusetts during statewide emergencies and a training facility for firefighters throughout Central Massachusetts.

The Worcester Fire Department, with a membership of over 400 uniformed firefighters, provides fire protection and life safety services to an area encompassing 39 square miles and a population of 175,454.