Two fallen Boston firefighters receive heroism awards

December 3, 2008 04:13 PM Email| Comments (4)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

Two Boston firefighters who were killed in a fire at a restaurant in the city’s West Roxbury section last year have been honored with the state’s highest award for valor.

Governor Deval Patrick gave the Medal of Honor awards to family members of Paul J. Cahill and Warren J. Payne at the annual Firefighter of the Year awards ceremony today.

Twenty-one other awards were given, including Medals of Valor that went to firefighters from Brookline, Fall River, Milton, and Saugus, and Individual Awards for Meritorious Conduct to firefighters from Boston, Falmouth, Gloucester, Hull, Swampscott, and Saugus.

“I am honored to be able to express my gratitude to these brave individuals and to their families,” Patrick said. “Your exceptional service is in keeping with the proud traditions of your profession.”

Cahill and Payne were killed in a fire at the Tai Ho Mandarin and Cantonese restaurant on Aug. 29, 2007. Grease from the restaurant's kitchen exhaust system had seeped into the ceiling and ignited.

Controversy erupted shortly after the firefighters' deaths, when autopsy results indicated Payne had cocaine in his system and Cahill had a high blood-alcohol content. City officials and the firefighters' union have been engaged in a bitter contract dispute over the issue of mandatory drug and alcohol testing since the autopsy results became public.

But Steve MacDonald, a fire department spokesman, said the controversy should have no bearing on the awards for the two men.

“They were two firefighters that were working their shift and went in and they got killed as a result of working as firefighters in the building. Whatever else has been written really doesn’t play into the job they did. They worked as firefighters, they died as firefighters. What happened today was most appropriate,” he said.

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4 comments so far...

I disagree. It is indeed very sad these men lost their lives. But the outcome might have been much different if their judgment was not impaired while in the line of duty. Their service could not have been "exceptional" under the circumstances and therefore, I do not believe it should be rewarded. My condolences to the victims and their families nonetheless.

Posted by Paula December 3, 08 05:47 PM

It was an empty restaurant and our cries rang out. If a 6 month old had been carried to safety how differently our response would have been. Let's hope when our own 6 month old's are in need we have heroes like Mr. Payne and Mr. Cahill on duty to ensure their safety.
My condolences to all families involved.

Posted by Paul, Quincy December 4, 08 02:05 AM

Paula raises a valid point in that, unimpaired, these firefighters might've survived. It's a reasonable speculation. I wouln't go as far as saying they don't deserve awards fo dying in the line of duty, though. However, the firefighters' union is out of line to oppose mandatory drug testing. The public deserves unimpaired firefighters when lives are on the line. Impaired firefghters put their comrades at risk, too.

Posted by RRRRComposer December 4, 08 06:27 AM

The grip the firefighters union has on the state is obscene and for Deval Patrick to knowingly hand out awards to the families (of whom received full benefits) of two firefighters that were proven to be impaired while on duty is a joke. But the joke is on us, the MA residents because we tolerate this behavior and will once again vote for this Bozo next election.

Posted by alicex3000 December 4, 08 12:06 PM