More West Roxbury fire coverage:
 Flames smoldered undetected in ceiling Officials react to the tragedy Neighbors pay tribute with flowers, poems Video
 Were you there?Press conference: Mayor Menino Fire Chief MacCurtain
Photos:
 The scene
Tributes and memorials
From today's Globe:
2 firefighters die, 12 hurt in blaze Amid the embers, a neighborhood mourns
 Map Past fires causing multiple deaths Past tragediesPost a tribute: Paul Cahill
Warren Payne |
local news updates
updated
Thursday, 4:30 PM
Thursday, 4:30 PM
From the City & Region staff at The Boston Globe
Neighbors pay tribute to fallen firefighters with flowers, poems
(Dominic Chavez/Globe Staff)
By Keith O'Brien and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
They laid bouquets of flowers and hand-written poems on a bench this morning outside Engine 30, Ladder 25. As dark bunting was hung from the West Roxbury fire station, neighbors brought wreathes and notes of condolence that said: "with sadness," "our prayers are with you," "to our heroes," and "may they not be forgotten."
One homemade card -- signed by Sean and Caitlin Murphy -- had a heart drawn on the cover. In a black marker, a child wrote: "Thank you for your bravery and protection. I'm sorry about your friends. I wish I could have know them."
Patti Westwater came from her home in Hyde Park with a bouquet of yellow flowers. "I had to do it," she said. "It's not going to take away the pain or anything. But it's expressing my thanks for all they do."
Her two sons are firefighters -- one in New Bedford, and another, Michael, is assigned to Engine 3 in the South End. He was off duty Wednesday night, but like so many others rushed to the scene.
"It's a huge family," Westwater said. "Love them all. Proud of all the work they do."
