10-year anniversary events planned for fallen firefighters.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WORCESTER - The city is planning memorial events in recognition of the six firefighters who died a decade ago battling a fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co.

Besides events being held Dec. 3 at the Franklin Street Fire Station, built at the site of the Dec. 3, 1999, fire, the state's annual Firefighter of the Year ceremony will be held that day at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. The latter event is usually held in Boston.

City officials said invitations have been sent to several public officials, among them Vice President Joe Biden.

The events will honor the fallen firefighters - Paul A. Brotherton, Jeremiah M. Lucey and Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lts. Timothy P. Jackson Sr., Thomas E. Spencer and James F. "Jay" Lyons III.

District Fire Chief Frank D. DiLiddo III said yesterday there will be a memorial Mass at the station, but the official start time has not been determined. The names of the fallen firefighters will be read at 6:13 p.m. and the symbolic bell will clang, noting the time Fire Alarm Box 1438 was struck on that December evening a decade ago.

"We're expecting firefighters from across the country to come," Chief DiLiddo said, noting he received calls from as far as Nebraska. "We're expecting a large turnout."

The decades-old vacant meatpacking warehouse the near Interstate 290 has been replaced by a new city fire station - a building fire officials have called a fitting memorial for their lost brothers.

About 2,000 people attended the dedication of the new fire station. City officials expect that number could double for the 10-year anniversary event on Dec. 3.

Before the memorial event, the...